Jeremy Sharon

Jeremy Sharon is The Times of Israel’s legal affairs and settlements reporter

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman MK Simcha Rothman hold a press conference in the Knesset, March 21, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 21, 2023, 11:14 pm

Smotrich: We’re listening to critics but our law to choose judges will pass next week

Finance minister says coalition seeking dialogue but has mandate to carry out comprehensive judicial reform; Lapid: They’re destroying democracy; Gantz denounces hypocrisy

By Jeremy Sharon

Aryeh Deri speaks during a Shas party faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on January 23, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 21, 2023, 8:26 am

Bill aimed at returning Deri to cabinet passes first Knesset plenum reading

Proposal clears with 63 votes in favor to 55 against; Lapid: ‘A happy day for criminals’; Likud MK claims law ‘will strengthen the standing of the judicial branch’

By ToI Staff and Jeremy Sharon

Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman MK Simcha Rothman heads a committee hearing, March 19, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 21, 2023, 6:21 am

Changes to judicial overhaul leave just 10 days to re-do constitutional framework

A new draft for the overhaul of the judicial appointments process leaves the Knesset with less than two weeks to re-draw a critical pillar of Israel’s constitution arrangements

By Jeremy Sharon

Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman MK Simcha Rothman heads a committee hearing, March 20, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 21, 2023, 12:47 am

Ostensibly softened, Rothman bill gives coalition broad control over choice of judges

According to tweaked draft, coalition would choose the justices to fill the first two Supreme Court openings in its tenure, gain full authority over lower court appointments

By Jeremy Sharon

Coalition party leaders meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, January 22, 2023. (Courtesy: Likud)

March 20, 2023, 6:31 am

Coalition to bring judicial appointments bill for final votes before Passover

Party heads say rest of legislative package of radical overhaul of judiciary will wait until after recess, call on opposition to use time for ‘negotiations’

By Jeremy Sharon, Carrie Keller-Lynn and ToI Staff

Architects of the government's judicial overhaul package Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman and Justice Minister Yariv Levin speak during a debate in the Knesset plenum, February 22, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 19, 2023, 11:32 pm

Pressured to compromise, coalition debates new proposal for judicial appointments

Under revised plan pitched by Rothman, government would choose first two Supreme Court justices in Knesset term, further appointments would need support of judge and opposition MK

By Jeremy Sharon and Carrie Keller-Lynn

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to police officials ahead of a protest against the government's planned judicial overhaul, outside the Knesset, February 20, 2023. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

March 19, 2023, 7:07 pm

Top court says police don’t take orders on protests from Ben Gvir, who slams ‘coup’

Ruling follows incidents in which far-right minister instructed police commanders on crowd dispersal methods, highways to be cleared

By Jeremy Sharon

Israelis protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the Israel's judicial system, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, March 18, 2023. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

March 18, 2023, 11:52 pm

Coalition to push ahead with judicial overhaul, bills to assist Netanyahu and Deri

Constitution committee will hold back-to-back hearings ahead of likely final votes next week, while bills to help PM and Shas chief with legal problems will also be advanced

By Jeremy Sharon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Justice Minister Yariv Levin during a debate and a vote in the Knesset plenum, March 6, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 17, 2023, 3:23 am

Unconfirmed reports say coalition considering moderations to judicial overhaul bills

Levin’s office denies TV report on idea to slightly reduce the coalition’s hold on judicial appointments; other reports cite possible amending of the High Court override clause

By Jeremy Sharon

March 14, 2023, 11:42 pm

Kohelet, right-wing think tank that inspired overhaul, calls for partial compromise

Kohelet Forum, which provided ideological foundations for coalition’s radical legislation, says override law could be scrapped, still wants coalition ‘advantage’ in choosing judges

By Jeremy Sharon

National Security Minister in Jerusalem for discussions with senior police officials ahead of a planned protest against the government's judicial overhaul legislation outside the Knesset, February 20, 2023. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

March 14, 2023, 4:52 pm

High Court rejects Ben Gvir’s effort to circumvent AG with private legal counsel

The national security minister had sought High Court’s permission to use alternate representation in legal motions against him, due to his ‘lack of faith’ in the attorney general

By Jeremy Sharon

Youths sits on a water tank painted orange, the color symbolizing the movement opposing the disengagement, at the West Bank settlement of Homesh, 12 June 2007 (MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP)

March 14, 2023, 8:46 am

Disengagement repeal law for northern West Bank approved in first reading

Reversing sections of the 2005 disengagement law is critical for the government’s goal of legalizing the illegal settlement outpost of Homesh

By Jeremy Sharon and ToI Staff

Composite photo: Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir, left, during a faction meeting at the Knesset on November 21, 2022; Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara speaks at Tel Aviv University on September 28, 2022. (Flash90)

March 13, 2023, 11:17 am

Ben Gvir, AG tensions spike over High Court petitions, Tel Aviv police chief affair

Baharav-Miara says can’t agree to ultranationalist minister’s request he be granted independent counsel for High Court petitions against expansion of ministerial power over police

By Jeremy Sharon

View of the Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumin and the area known as E1, in the West Bank, on January 2, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90/ File)

March 12, 2023, 11:27 pm

Hearing for controversial E1 settlement project postponed once again

Approval for thousands of homes east of Jerusalem has been sought by Israel’s right for years: anti-settlement groups say it would undermine the viability of a Palestinian state

By Jeremy Sharon

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen at the entrance to the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv ahead of anti-government demonstrations, March 9, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)

March 12, 2023, 7:08 pm

Ben Gvir demands independent counsel, says he can’t rely on attorney general

Far-right minister slams Gali Baharav-Miara for ‘exceeding her authority’ by freezing move to reassign top cop; warns ‘day is coming when we will need to make a decision about her’

By Jeremy Sharon