Israeli Supreme Court Presidency Criticized for Undermining Democracy

The past year, referred to as "the year the court officially enshrined the regime in Israel as a juristocracy," has seen the Israeli Supreme Court, particularly under the leadership of President Yitzhak Amit and Justice Mirel Shapira, accused of fundamentally altering the nation's legal and democratic framework. The author argues that the court has become a "corrupt and anti-democratic" institution, deviating from established legal principles and engaging in political maneuvering.

Key criticisms focus on the court's alleged manipulation of judicial appointments, particularly within the Judicial Selection Committee, and the "burying" of significant cases, exemplified by the "Missile Unit affair." The article contends that President Amit, in particular, lacks expertise in constitutional law and has established unprecedented norms that undermine democratic principles of accountability. His approach is described as an "abuse of power" in determining court compositions to impose his views, disregarding fellow justices.

Amit is further characterized as the "most corrupt president in the history of the Israeli Supreme Court." The author predicts that upon his retirement in two years, he will leave behind an institution that has lost public trust and is openly acting as a political player in the struggle for control over the country's governance. The piece suggests a departure from the legacy of former President Aharon Barak, whose influence is implicitly contrasted with the current court's trajectory.