7/23/2023-|Last update: 7/23/202305:55 PM (Mecca Time)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains in hospital Sunday after doctors implanted a pacemaker, as tens of thousands flocked to Jerusalem to protest against judicial amendments being debated in the Knesset (parliament).
Netanyahu’s office said the pacemaker implantation procedure went smoothly, and the prime minister was expected to be discharged from hospital later Sunday, adding that planned visits to Cyprus and Turkey would be postponed to another date.
Netanyahu said his “health is excellent” after a pacemaker was installed in the hospital, and he plans to come to the Knesset on Monday to vote on a major judicial amendment.
And at a time when Israel is witnessing the most serious internal political crisis in decades, doctors who follow the case of Netanyahu, 73, said that he entered the Sheba Medical Center near Tel Aviv in a hurry yesterday evening, Saturday, after a heart rate monitor implanted for him a week ago detected a “temporary heart rhythm disorder.” Netanyahu was hospitalized a week ago with what was described as a state of dehydration.
Netanyahu’s ruling coalition of national and religious parties insisted on advancing the plans, which would limit the Supreme Court’s ability to overrule government actions on legal grounds. The coalition says the court is getting too involved in matters for political reasons.
On Sunday, lawmakers began debating a draft law to limit the ability of the Supreme Court to annul decisions by the government and ministers if it deemed them taken on an “unreasonable basis”, to be voted on on Monday.
Opponents say that the judicial amendments plan is being passed hastily in parliament and that it will open the door to abuse of power by overthrowing one of the few effective oversight tools over the executive branch in a country that does not have a formal written constitution.
The spread of the crisis
In conjunction with the Knesset’s discussion of the judicial amendments, demonstrations continue in front of a number of official buildings in Israel, including the Knesset and the Supreme Court, and tens of thousands of Israelis participate in these demonstrations, protesting these amendments.
The Israeli police commissioner said the police would “act with zero tolerance for disturbances, violence and any damage to infrastructure”.
Meanwhile, the Israel Broadcasting Authority said the defense minister is considering abstaining from the vote, if there is no settlement over the judicial amendments.
The scope of the crisis has expanded to include the army, with hundreds of volunteer reservists threatening to be discontinued if the government goes ahead with implementing these plans, and with two former army and security commanders warning that national security is endangered.
Tens of thousands of Israelis opposed to the judicial amendments marched to Jerusalem at the weekend, raising flags and beating drums, despite the scorching summer sun. Many people pitched tents in a park near the Knesset.
Anger over these amendments contributed to strained relations with the United States, as well as to the escalation of Israeli-Palestinian violence and to allowing the advancement of Iran’s nuclear program.
Washington urged Netanyahu to seek broad consensus on any judicial changes. Note that the Israeli Prime Minister is under trial on corruption charges he denies committing.
Companies “flee” from Israel
In conjunction with the Knesset debate on the draft constitutional amendments; A survey published by an Israeli non-profit organization showed today, Sunday, that about 70% of start-up companies in Israel have taken steps to transfer some of their businesses abroad due to the crisis in the judicial amendments that the government is pushing for approval.
The survey, conducted by Start-Up Nation Central, aims to measure the economic impact of plans by Netanyahu’s far-right coalition that would limit the Supreme Court’s powers to overturn legislation.
According to Reuters, companies also cited the proposed amendments as the reason for a 70% drop in funding raised by technology companies in the first half of the year.
The survey, in which specialists representing 521 companies participated, showed that 68% of Israeli start-ups “have begun to take actual legal and financial steps, such as withdrawing from cash reserves, moving the headquarters location outside Israel, transferring employees, and laying off employees.”
The technology sector is one of the sectors driving growth in Israel, as it represents 15% of economic output, 10% of jobs, more than 50% of exports and 25% of tax revenues.
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2023-07-23 14:26:12
