Israeli reforms would undermine judiciary: UN human rights chief
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Israelis took to the streets of Jerusalem on Monday to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms. The proposal would make it easier for the state to appoint judges and limit the Supreme Court’s authority to strike down legislation.
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GENEVA - The United Nations’ human rights chief voiced concerns on Tuesday that a proposed overhaul of Israel’s judicial system
Israel’s Parliament is pushing ahead with changes
The proposals, which have sparked mass protests,
“Breaking from decades of settled practice, such a law would drastically undermine the ability of the judiciary to vindicate individual rights and to uphold the rule of law as an effective institutional check on executive and legislative power,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.
His statement added that the changes would create greater political influence over the judicial selection system.
Israel’s mission in Geneva declined to comment.
Its ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ms Meirav Eilon Shahar, has said a previous statement from Mr Turk showed prejudice.
Mr Turk, who became High Commissioner in October, earlier in February called on Israel to ensure respect of international rights law after his office documented a record 151 killings of Palestinians by security forces in 2022. REUTERS
