The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved a controversial bill on Wednesday aimed at reshaping the committee responsible for selecting Israeli judges.
The bill passed by a vote of 10-6. The legislation now heads to the Knesset plenum, which is likely vote in about two weeks. If approved, it would take effect at the beginning of the 26th Knesset term. Israel’s next national elections are not due to be held until October 2026.
The legislation is based on a compromise hammered out between Justice Minister Yariv Levin Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who previously served as justice minister.
The bill proposes a new nine-member judicial selection committee chaired by the Minister of Justice. It would also be made up of one government minister, one coalition MK, on opposition MK, two lawyers — one each appointed by the government and the opposition — and three sitting Supreme Court Justices. A simple majority would be required to elect judges for any court as long as one government and one opposition member are part of the majority.