Will the controversial judicial reform in Israel be overturned after all?
At least it will be postponed.
A consequence of the protest that is paralyzing the country.
German politicians are concerned.
Berlin/Cologne – You stood again in front of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem.
Angry, with protest placards and rainbow flags.
More than half a million people took to the streets over the weekend.
The reason: the controversial judicial reform.
A proposed law that puts Israel in a state of emergency.
Civil society is in turmoil.
This Monday, the unions are calling for a general strike to paralyze the country.
And the Israelis follow them.
The current political situation is rapidly coming to a head in the direction of a tangible state crisis.
Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets last night to protest against the plans of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing religious government.
Latest spark of anger: the dismissal of Defense Minister Joav Galant for his open criticism of Netanyahu - and his judicial reform.
Even soldiers then threatened to disobey orders.
Dispute in Israel: Will Netanyahu stop the controversial judicial reform?
Kindergartens, shopping malls, restaurants: tight.
Flights: cancelled.
Israel stands still this Monday.
And the protest seems to be having an effect.
Israel's Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has announced a postponement of judicial reform.
A spokesman said on Monday that he had agreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu to postpone it until after the parliamentary break at the end of July.
In return, a “national guard” will be set up under the leadership of the far-right minister.
What this means in concrete terms was initially unclear.
In Berlin, too, politicians are looking increasingly tensely towards Israel.
SPD foreign expert Nils Schmid hopes that the government in Jerusalem will give in.
"If the reports are confirmed that the previous plans for judicial reform in Israel are being stopped, then the ongoing protests by Israeli civil society would have been successful.
That would be a reason to be happy," says Schmid of the
Frankfurter Rundschau
.
At the same time, the SPD man warns that social peace is at risk: "In the case of Israel, this is particularly fatal because the country is already confronted with numerous difficult challenges, such as the escalating conflict with the Palestinians and the growing threat from Iran. "
Israel stands still: judicial reform would effectively abolish the separation of powers
It is actually part of diplomatic practice not to interfere in domestic affairs.
German politicians also refer to this.
And yet they position themselves very clearly.
Government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said on Monday in Berlin that people are concerned about what has happened "in the last few days and especially hours in Israel".
What is at stake is what characterizes Israel in a politically unstable region: its constitution as a democratic constitutional state.
Should the supporters of judicial reform prevail in Netanyahu's cabinet, it would have serious repercussions on the separation of powers in Israel.
The law would severely limit the influence of the Supreme Court.
And: It would be the government alone that decides on the appointment of judges in the future.
The separation of powers?
It would effectively be abolished 75 years after the founding of the State of Israel.
An idea that is increasingly driving Israelis onto the streets and paralyzing the country.
Outcome: uncertain.