Knesset law panel begins debating MK Rothman’s judicial overhaul bill

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee begins a discussion on a private member’s bill brought by its chair on overhauling the country’s judicial system.

Opposition MKs are boycotting the session.

Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman’s plan, released Tuesday night, diverges from Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s earlier proposal in that it sets out a different a Judicial Selection Committee makeup, would not alter the process for appointing the Supreme Court president, requires unanimous agreement among all 15 Supreme Court justices to strike down a law, and presents a more narrow curtailment of the “reasonableness” judicial test.

Two student protesters break into the session, with one student labeling the reforms “a coup, a blatant cancelation of the separation of powers.”

Another says: “You are taking democracy away from us.”