People across Israel were on tenterhooks on Tuesday as the country’s most senior judges deliberated on whether to overturn a key aspect of the government’s proposed judicial reforms – a decision that could lead to a constitutional crisis.
In one of Israel’s most politically divisive days this year, government ministers lambasted the opposition and legal officials, while opposition politicians slammed the government for being unpatriotic.
In Tel Aviv, the Museum of Art cancelled entry fees and screened the proceedings so that the public could watch the “decisive moment”.
The High Court hearing relates to government-enacted legislation passed in July to revoke a “reasonableness standard”, which gives judges the power to overturn government policies on the basis of their being unreasonable.
If the High Court overturns the legislation and the government ignores that decision, civil servants and security chiefs will have to decide whether to act in accordance with the government or the judiciary’s stance, which could lead to a constitutional crisis.
Opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to drastically weaken the judiciary say that democracy in the country could end if the courts – and a vast anti-government protest movement – cannot halt the process.
Protests against the judicial overhaul began in January and have continued ever since, becoming the largest street demonstrations in Israel's history.
Government supporters say judicial reform is needed to rein in an excessively powerful and anti-democratic judiciary.
Before the fraught session even began in the High Court on Tuesday morning, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a key architect of the reforms, said the fact that such a hearing was taking place was a “mortal blow to democracy and the status of the Knesset [Israel’s parliament]”.
Mr Levin, of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, has consistently taken a hard line on the reforms and pressured the Prime Minister against watering down the plans to seek an agreement with the opposition.
Far-right politician and long-time advocate of reform Simcha Rothman was in attendance to slam the Supreme Court as an “oligarchic regime”.
In a sign of the case’s significance, all 15 justices are hearing the appeal together for the first time in the country’s history, rather than in typical smaller panels. The proceedings were also live-streamed and aired on the country's main TV stations.
A key issue in the proceedings was whether the judiciary has the power to interfere with government attempts to change quasi-constitutional “Basic Laws”, of which the reasonableness standard is one.
If the court rules in favour of petitioners challenging the government’s law, it will be the first time such a foundational law is disqualified.
Despite harsh questioning from some of the justices, viewed by some as a sign the court will eventually rule against the government, Chief Justice Esther Hayut stressed that her court could only quash a Basic Law if it were to be a “mortal blow” to democracy.
There is no exact date when the court will issue its final ruling, although the result is likely to come within weeks, if not months.
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
MO
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VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Pari
Produced by: Clean Slate Films (Anushka Sharma, Karnesh Sharma) & KriArj Entertainment
Director: Prosit Roy
Starring: Anushka Sharma, Parambrata Chattopadhyay, Ritabhari Chakraborty, Rajat Kapoor, Mansi Multani
Three stars
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
What is a robo-adviser?
Robo-advisers use an online sign-up process to gauge an investor’s risk tolerance by feeding information such as their age, income, saving goals and investment history into an algorithm, which then assigns them an investment portfolio, ranging from more conservative to higher risk ones.
These portfolios are made up of exchange traded funds (ETFs) with exposure to indices such as US and global equities, fixed-income products like bonds, though exposure to real estate, commodity ETFs or gold is also possible.
Investing in ETFs allows robo-advisers to offer fees far lower than traditional investments, such as actively managed mutual funds bought through a bank or broker. Investors can buy ETFs directly via a brokerage, but with robo-advisers they benefit from investment portfolios matched to their risk tolerance as well as being user friendly.
Many robo-advisers charge what are called wrap fees, meaning there are no additional fees such as subscription or withdrawal fees, success fees or fees for rebalancing.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com