JNE Chair David Mednicoff Writes 'The Conversation' Essay on Israel's Contentious Judicial ‘Reform’ Becoming Law
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David Mednicoff, chair of the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies and associate professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, wrote an essay prominently featured on The Conversation entitled "As Contentious Judicial ‘Reform’ Becomes Law in Israel, Netanyahu Cements His Political Legacy."
In the article, Mednicoff writes:
Israel’s parliament passed a law on July 24, 2023, that limits the Supreme Court’s ability to rein in government actions, part of a broader proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to strengthen the power of the country’s executive branch.
The legislation has divided the country for months, sparking massive demonstrations. Opponents say the law threatens democracy; supporters argue it protects the will of the electoral majority.
Netanyahu has been a political force and survivor in Israeli politics since the 1990s. Yet it makes sense to assess his career now in light of his recent hospitalizations, the latest coming in the middle of the court reform crisis.
As a scholar of Middle Eastern politics, I think that Netanyahu’s long-term legacy will be based on three major developments. He has shifted Israeli politics rightward. He has stymied the emergence of a Palestinian state. He has increased Israel’s links to nondemocratic foreign governments.
Continue reading the story on The Conversation.
Bonus: An Interview with Al-Jazeera
Following his article in The Conversation, David Mednicoff spoke to Al-Jazeera on Netanyahu's 'judicial coup' law and the protests in Israel.