Ian Explains: Why Israel's judiciary reform is so controversial

Ian Explains: Why Israel's judiciary reform is so controversial | GZERO World

Israel celebrated Memorial Day and its 75th birthday in late April. But now the country is looking ahead once more, and not liking what it sees, Ian Bremmer explains on GZERO World.

Israelis are split on the left and right over Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu's far-right coalition and its push for a bill that would give the executive and legislature control of the judiciary.

Critics argue that the reform would undermine democracy by weakening the courts and removing protections for minorities.

Bibi, who delayed the legislation vote until May, is in a tough position: Pressing on risks irreparable harm to Israel's democracy, but pulling back means that the political allies propping him up may abandon him.

Watch the episode of GZERO World with Ian Bremmer: How Bibi could end Israel's democracy (or get ousted)

More from GZERO Media

Iran's outgoing VP Mohammad Javad Zarif speaks during a news conference in Tehran back in 2019.

Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA via Reuters

The administration of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian suffered a second blow in as many days with the resignation Monday of Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s vice president for strategic affairs. His departure comes after the impeachment on Sunday of another Pezeshkian ally, Economy Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati, over the decline of the Iranian rial, and is a sign that conservative forces are gaining ground within the current administration.

Director Sean Baker, producers Alex Coco, and Samantha Quan, and cast and crew members win the Oscar for best picture for "Anora" during the Oscars show at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on March 2, 2025.

REUTERS/Carlos Barria

It was a big night for independent filmmaking and a film with Russian themes at the Oscars on Sunday as “Anora” took home five Academy Awards, including best screenplay, best editing, best director, best actress, and best picture.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa, Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Finland's President Alexander Stubb and other officials attend the European leaders' summit to discuss European security and Ukraine, at Lancaster House in London, Britain, on March 2, 2025.
NTB/Javad Parsa/via REUTERS

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, European leaders from France, Italy, Germany, and other nations, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, spent the weekend in London crafting a European-led plan to bring peace to Ukraine.

Syrian Kurds gather with flags as Turkey's jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan calls on his Kurdistan Workers Party to lay down its arms last week in Hasakah, Syria.

REUTERS/Orhan Qereman

After a 40-year conflict with Turkey that has killed 40,000 people, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK, declared a ceasefire on Saturday following a call from its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to dissolve the group. Ocalan, imprisoned since 1999, called the move a “historical responsibility” – but one that brings no apparent concessions from Ankara.

Israeli tanks are seen inside Gaza amid a ceasefire breakdown between Israel and Hamas on March 2, 2025.
REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Israeli Defense Forces blocked aid trucks from entering Gaza on Sunday, just one day after the first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas expired, bringing negotiations over a permanent truce to a standstill.

A man gestures toward security forces during an anti-government rally in Bucharest, Romania, March 1, 2025.
REUTERS/Andreea Campeanu

Tens of thousands of far-right demonstrators gathered in Bucharest on Saturday to protest the Romanian government’s decision to call off a second round of national elections, deeming it an assault on democracy. A rerun of the first round is now scheduled for May 4, but the protesters want the government to reinstate the original result and hold a run-off instead.

The Kremlin

China and Russia are reportedly looking to exploit US federal workforce cuts by targeting recently fired or at-risk federal employees in national security roles for recruitment, according to sources familiar with US intelligence. The quarries? Employees with top security clearances and information about America’s critical infrastructure and government operations.