Israel battles quiet internal upheaval after passage of controversial bill on weakening Supreme Court

The bill passed on Monday with 64 votes in favour and zero against it, with the opposition boycotting the final vote on the bill in protest. It was the first major bill to pass in the government’s much-criticised judicial overhaul plans. Multiple last-minute attempts within the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) to amend the bill or to come to a broader procedural compromise with the opposition failed.

Angry protests following the passage of a controversial bill by Israel's Parliament this week on a controversial bill that could limit the Supreme Court's powers has given way to a quiet upheaval in the country with threats of mass emigration, resignations in critical positions, army desertions, strikes and flight of capital.

Israeli Parliament approved the contentious law that prevents judicial checks on political power and forms a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to reshape the country's justice system, after weeks of unprecedented protests that have crippled the Jewish state.

The bill passed on Monday with 64 votes in favour and zero against it, with the opposition boycotting the final vote on the bill in protest.

It was the first major bill to pass in the government’s much-criticised judicial overhaul plans.

Multiple last-minute attempts within the Knesset (Israel's Parliament) to amend the bill or to come to a broader procedural compromise with the opposition failed.

Credit rating agency Moody’s Investors Service on Tuesday warned about “negative consequences” and “significant risk” for Israel’s economy and security situation following the passage of the first bill.

Moody’s had in April lowered Israel’s credit outlook from “positive” to “stable,” citing a “deterioration of Israel’s governance” and upheaval over the government’s bid to dramatically overhaul the judiciary.