Coalition officials vow to pass overhaul bill ‘as planned’ if no agreement reached

22 July 2023, 6:37 pm

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with Justice Minister Yariv Levin as the Knesset deliberates a bill to cancel the judiciary’s review powers over the 'reasonableness' of government decisions, in Jerusalem on July 10, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government indicates it has no intention of slowing the passage of the “reasonableness” bill, amid growing protests and threats by reservists to stop volunteering ahead of the legislation’s expected package in the next few days.

“The government and coalition’s position is unequivocal: The greatest harm to Israel’s security and democracy is the subordination of the government and Knesset to the dictates of military units,” unnamed coalition officials say in a statement to Hebrew media outlets.

“The efforts to reach an agreement on the legislation will continue until the last moment. In the absence of an agreement, the legislation will be passed as planned,” the officials add.