Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu's judicial overhaul

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00:00 Now, after months of protests against its controversial judicial overhaul,

00:05 an historic showdown is taking place in Israel today.

00:08 All 15 Supreme Court judges are convening for the first time in the country's history

00:13 to hear petitions against a legal amendment that would limit their own powers.

00:19 To tell us more, France 24 correspondent Iris Mackler is live with me now.

00:23 She's at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem.

00:26 Iris, tell us what's been happening today, both inside of the court and out.

00:31 Inside the court, we have had a packed courtroom televised to the whole country,

00:39 being broadcast live, even on commercial channels,

00:42 as everyone takes in the lesson of what happens when,

00:45 the civics lesson of what happens when you don't have a constitution.

00:50 Then you have these kind of fights, and what we've seen is people petitioning

00:54 this amazing position where the Supreme Court is hearing an appeal

00:58 against the curb on its own power with three parties here.

01:02 The court, the government, and the Attorney-General, who's part of the government,

01:07 but because she's independent, she's come to the conclusion that she agrees with the appellants

01:12 and that this legislation in its current form is too draconian

01:16 and will damage Israel's democracy.

01:19 So you can see where that legal crisis is heading.

01:22 Outside the court, we've had politicians from within this government

01:26 stressing, warning the court not to intervene.

01:30 The Speaker of Israel's Parliament said that the parliament would not accede to being trampled,

01:35 and today we saw many members of parliament repeating that on social media.

01:39 "Will not accede, the parliament will not accede, the parliament will not accede."

01:43 It really is, I guess, the rule of law versus the government,

01:47 or the government versus the rule of law, and when politicians are asked,

01:51 "Will they obey a court ruling?" very few say yes.

01:57 So quite a dramatic day inside of the court, Eris.

02:00 Give us a sense of what is likely to come next.

02:06 We have seen endless protests, and I think the protesters deserve some credit

02:12 for what we are seeing here today.

02:14 It's been reported all along that Benjamin Netanyahu said the protests would die down.

02:19 That has not happened. They are quiet now, and I've moved a little bit away from them,

02:24 but they've said they want this court case to go ahead without disruption.

02:28 But last night, there were tens of thousands of people right here, filling this street,

02:33 and they said, "The court protects our rights, we must protect the court."

02:38 And what we're hearing is that in the background, there are talks between the government,

02:44 some members of the opposition, to reach some kind of compromise that would mean

02:49 that this endless period of disruption in Israel, indescribable unless you're living

02:54 at week after week, that might bring this to an end.

02:58 Eris Makkela, live outside of the Supreme Court in Jerusalem. Thank you very much.

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