Reform Roadblock

How Bibi’s judicial reform was stopped in its tracks

Months after the right under Netanyahu swept back into power, seemingly relegating the left to political oblivion, the opposition has achieved the impossible: it has halted – and possibly ended – the push for reform of the justice system which was the government’s flagship policy.

Large, sustained protests were the main tool, with major highways blocked by crowds chanting “DE-MO-KRAT-YAH.” Opponents of the reform upped the ante, with tech investors threatening to divest from the country and large numbers of reservists in critical IDF units warning that they wouldn’t serve.

The country descended into chaos when union bosses closed Ben Gurion, shut down major retail chains, and brought large parts of the economy to a standstill.

With Netanyahu under international pressure to abort the reforms and the country’s media, academic and economic establishments united in vehement opposition, and Bibi’s coalition threatening to break apart, the government’s resolve cracked and the reforms were put on hold.