Israel: PM Benjamin Netanyahu accused of trying to weaken Supreme Court as minister unveils proposed law

The newly-formed Benjamin Netanyahu government in Israel is facing allegations of trying to weaken the country's Supreme Court.

Netanyahu's justice minister on 4 January 2023 unveiled a proposed law which would allow the Parliament to override Supreme Court verdicts with a simple majority, give politicians a greater role in appointment of top court judges, and let ministers appoint their own legal advisors.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin presented his plan a day before the justices are to debate a controversial new law passed by the government allowing a politician convicted of tax offenses to serve as a Cabinet minister.

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Levin argued that the public's faith in the judicial system has plummeted to a historic low, and said he plans to restore power to elected officials that now lies in the hands of overly interventionist judges.

Critics reportedly accused Netanyahu of trying to upend Israel's system of checks and balances.

(With AP inputs)