Right-wing protesters demonstrate outside site of Isaac Amit’s inauguration as Supreme Court chief

A small demonstration is being staged outside the President’s Residence in Jerusalem against incoming Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, whose inauguration ceremony will be held there shortly.

A handful of right-wing protesters hold posters declaring, “You have no mandate from the people,” while a banner declares: “We oppose a legal dictatorship.”

Far-right MK Limor Son Har Melech of the Otzma Yehudit party is also present at the demonstration.

The demonstrators’ loudspeakers are blasting music and speeches denouncing Amit and the legal establishment into the garden of the President’s Residence where Amit, the serving justices of the Supreme Court, and numerous dignitaries from the judiciary are gathered for the ceremony.

Amit was appointed president of the court in January after a lengthy battle by Justice Minister Yariv Levin to prevent him from being elected head of the judiciary, a fight stemming from Levin’s desire to overhaul the legal system and assert greater government control over the makeup of the judiciary. He and many on the right regard Amit as overly activist in his judicial doctrine and too inclined to intervene in the Knesset and the government’s decisions.

Levin refused for over 15 months to hold a vote to appoint a new president, resulting in the Supreme Court, sitting in its capacity as the High Court of Justice, ordering him to hold a vote.

Allegations of misconduct by Amit were raised just days before the vote was scheduled, but the Judicial Selection Committee dismissed them before appointing him president.