Jewish leaders: New Israel law removing supreme court`s power disappointing

RELIGIOUS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – Jewish leaders say new Israel law diminishing Supreme Court power is deeply disappointing.

The Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council have issued a joint statement expressing deep disappointment at a law approved by Israel’s Knesset.

The law removes the power of the Supreme Court to overrule government actions it considers unreasonable.

The law has been bitterly contested in Israel where police used water canons against protesters blocking a road, amidst rowdy protests by crowds outside the Knesset.

The statement says: “Both the Board of Deputies and the JLC have been supportive of the efforts by President Herzog to find a compromise between supporters and opponents of the proposed judicial reforms and we are deeply disappointed that, at this stage, the efforts have failed.

Now that the first law has passed, we plead with Israeli leaders to return urgently to dialogue and to prevent the deepening of a constitutional crisis which will do tremendous damage to the very fabric of Israeli society, its regional security and global status.

A Jewish democratic state remains the greatest achievement of the Jewish People in modern times and its preservation and development should be a priority of Jews worldwide.”