Former Supreme Court chief predicts ‘sadder days’ to come if ‘reasonableness’ bill passes

Former Supreme Court chief justice Aharon Barak, whose activist approach has been decried by proponents of the judicial overhaul, laments the expected passage of the “reasonableness” bill in the next day.

“I think this is a sad day,” Barak says in an interview with Channel 12 news, which will be aired in full tonight. “There will be sadder days… We’ve only begun.”

Barak warns the bill could allow the government to fire the attorney general and the legal advisers of government ministers, while suggesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could later seek to pass legislation preventing the High Court from overturning legislation — despite the premier insisting such a proposal won’t be advanced.

“[The bill] threatens to undermine the rule of law and fundamental rights of everyone in Israel,” Barak says.