JERUSALEM \ ANKARA

The Knesset (Israel’s parliament) passed new legislation on Thursday to change the makeup of the judicial selection committee, tightening the grip of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition over the judiciary.

The bill was passed by 67-1 votes in its third and final reading in the 120-seat Knesset, the assembly said in a statement.

According to the public broadcaster KAN, Israeli opposition lawmakers withdrew from the session in protest of the vote.

The new legislation removes the Israeli Bar Association's right to appoint two members of the nine-member judicial selection committee, transferring this authority to political parties. One of the two seats will go to the ruling coalition and the other to the opposition.

The judicial selection committee is a key body in selecting judges in all courts across Israel, including the Supreme Court, the Central Court, magistrate courts, and others.

The legislation, however, will become effective following the upcoming general elections at the end of 2026, unless there are early elections, according to an Anadolu reporter.

Critics view the new legislation as a new effort by the Netanyahu government to control the judiciary, which would also affect the independence of the courts.

The ruling coalition, however, claims that the step was crucial for a judicial overhaul to ensure wide representation in the issue of judge appointments.

The new legislation was passed amid ongoing tensions between Netanyahu's government and the Bar Association over the prime minister’s steps against the judiciary.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected Netanyahu’s request to lift a freeze on his government’s decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet security agency, adding to tension between the government and judiciary.

On Sunday, the Israeli government withdrew confidence from Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, in another move against the judiciary by Netanyahu and his ruling coalition.