Ex-chief justice Barak: Israel ‘no longer a liberal democracy,’ is now under PM’s ‘one-man’ rule

Former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak declares that Israel is “no longer a liberal democracy,” in a pre-recorded speech at an anti-government rally to mark three years since Justice Minister Yariv Levin revealed the coalition’s plans to overhaul the judiciary.

“This didn’t occur because of a dramatic incident that happened once,” Barak says. “This is a process in which essential aspects of Israeli democracy are under withering attack, and democracy is weakened.”

“Protecting human rights, separation of powers, the rule of law and the independence of the judicial branch are all being weakened,” he continues. “Our system of governance is a rule of one political branch, which in practice is controlled by one man, the same one who rules the government and the Knesset. This is the prime minister.”