Israeli judiciary in turmoil as government moves trigger warnings of ‘constitutional revolution’

Senior figures within Israel’s legal establishment have expressed alarm at the government’s actions, warning that the current trajectory represents a fundamental shift in the country’s democratic system. Legal experts have drawn a stark line between non-compliance with Supreme Court rulings and what they describe as the ‘weakening’ of the Attorney General’s Office, characterising these steps as potentially catastrophic for Israel’s institutional checks and balances.

According to legal sources, the government’s approach signals a transition from a substantive liberal democracy towards a purely formalist one—in other words, maintaining democratic procedures whilst stripping them of meaningful oversight. This distinction has proven crucial to Israel’s legal framework, whereby the Attorney General has traditionally served as a brake on executive overreach.

The concerns extend beyond domestic governance. Legal commentators argue that the moves will damage Israel’s international standing and how the country is perceived globally. The undermining of institutional independence, they suggest, sends a troubling signal to the international community about the health of Israeli democracy and the rule of law.

The developments represent an escalation of tensions between the government and the judiciary that have simmered since the coalition took office. These latest steps have crystallised long-standing fears within the legal profession that constitutional safeguards are being systematically eroded.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.