The Bar Council of England and Wales has written to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express deep concern over the proposed constitutional reforms which represent “a direct threat to the rule of law and the independence of its senior judiciary and lawyers”.
The intervention letter from the Chair of the Bar of England and Wales echoes the concerns raised by the Israeli Bar Association and supports its position in opposing the proposals.
In late March, the Prime Minister announced a delay to the plans and stated that he would enter into dialogue. However, in the public address he also committed to bringing in the proposals, stating: “We insist on the need to enact the necessary changes in the judicial system”.
The Chair of the Bar of England and Wales has written ahead of the Knesset returning from recess on 30 April. The letter calls on the Prime Minister to reaffirm the commitment to the rule of law by abandoning the proposed reforms which would:
- Severely limit the ability of Israeli citizens to challenge government decisions in court,
- Undermine the independence of the judiciary by giving government the power to remove judges, in violation of the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, and
- Deprive the Bar of independence by stripping the Israeli Bar Association of its function in the licensing of lawyers and placing the regulation of the profession within the Ministry of Justice, undermining the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers
Commenting, Nick Vineall KC, Chair of the Bar of England and Wales, said:
“The constitutional reform proposals are a direct threat to the rule of law in Israel, a country long admired for its Supreme Court. As currently framed, they put in grave peril the independence of the judiciary and legal profession.
“The Bar Council of England and Wales supports our colleagues in the Israeli Bar Association and calls upon the Prime Minister of Israel to reaffirm the commitment to the rule of law by abandoning these reforms immediately.”