Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting at the Kirya military base, which houses the Israeli Ministry of Defence, in Tel Aviv on Dec. 24, 2023. (Credit: Ohad Zwigenberg/POOL/AFP)
Israel's top court ruled Monday against a key component of the government's controversial legal overhaul, which challenged the powers of the judiciary and sparked mass protests.
A Supreme Court statement said eight of 15 justices had ruled against an amendment passed by parliament in July which scraps the "reasonableness" clause, used by the court to overturn government decisions that are deemed unconstitutional.
Netanyahu's Likud party said the decision was unfortunate and that it opposed "the will of the people for unity, especially during wartime."
Opposition lawmakers praised the ruling.
The Supreme Court, in a summary of its decision, said the majority of judges ruled to strike down the law because it would severely damage Israel's democracy.
A Supreme Court statement said eight of 15 justices had ruled against an amendment passed by parliament in July which scraps the "reasonableness" clause, used by the court to...