NEW YORK – After the Israeli Knesset moved forward with passing a judicial overhaul bill, T’ruah, a rabbinic human rights organization representing over 2,300 rabbis and cantors in North America, condemned the law and reiterated their commitment to fighting against the actions of Netanyahu’s antidemocratic coalition.
In a statement, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, CEO of T’ruah, said:
“We strongly condemn today’s passage in Knesset of a bill that severely limits the Supreme Court’s authority to review government decisions. Despite widespread protests in Israel and abroad, strikes by major business owners, threats of reservists to refuse to serve, and opposition from the Biden administration, Netanyahu’s far-right coalition pushed the bill forward, signifying a dangerous erosion of Israeli democracy.
“Checks and balances safeguard against the concentration of power and protect the rights and freedoms of citizens, particularly in Israel, which has no constitution. By curtailing the Supreme Court’s ability to review government actions, this extremist government will abuse their power by further expanding and entrenching occupation, as well as attacking the human rights of LGBTQ people, women, and non-Haredi Israelis.
“This Thursday, Jews around the world will commemorate the destruction of the First and Second Temples on Tisha B’Av. As we lament this ancient churban haBayit (“destruction of the Temple”), we similarly mourn the degradation of Israeli democracy along with so many of our hopes for the modern State of Israel. We call on Jewish organizations worldwide to demonstrate strong and vocal opposition to this judicial coup, as our democratic and Jewish values demand.
“As advocates for democracy and human rights, T’ruah stands in solidarity with the hundreds of thousands of people protesting Israel’s judicial overhaul and any measures that seek to undermine the very essence of democracy. We will fight any attempts to weaken the rule of law; to undermine human rights protections for all people, including women, LGBTQ people, and Palestinians and Israelis alike; and to further entrench and expand occupation.”
About T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights
T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights mobilizes a network of more than 2,300 rabbis and cantors from all streams of Judaism that, together with the Jewish community, act on the Jewish imperative to respect and advance the human rights of all people. Grounded in Torah and our Jewish historical experience and guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we call upon Jews to assert Jewish values by raising our voices and taking concrete steps to protect and expand human rights in North America, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories.