Outrage as Smotrich’s Party unveils judicial overhaul with video of Supreme Court Chief dragged

Israel’s Religious Zionism party presented what it called a “comprehensive plan to change the judicial system” on Tuesday, accompanying the proposal with a controversial AI-generated video depicting Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit being dragged along the ground during a protest.

The imagery drew sharp condemnation from President Isaac Herzog and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, who accused the party of inflaming political tensions during an election period.

The program, led by Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich and Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman Simcha Rothman, seeks to redefine the balance of power among Israel’s government, parliament and judiciary.

The party said its plan would preserve an independent and professional judiciary while enabling the government and Knesset to exercise the authority granted to them by voters. It also pledged clearer rules governing relations between the branches of government, stronger oversight of the courts and law-enforcement authorities, and greater protection for individual rights.

The proposal builds on measures Rothman promoted during the previous Knesset term, including changes to the judicial-selection process, restrictions on the courts’ use of the reasonableness standard, an override clause, the division of the attorney general’s responsibilities and the removal of the Police Internal Investigations Department from the State Attorney’s Office.

A central component of the plan is the proposed division of the attorney general’s position into two separate roles.

Under the proposal, the government would appoint its own legal adviser, while an independent public prosecutor would oversee criminal proceedings. Legal advisers in government ministries would become positions of trust filled by the relevant ministers.

The plan would also introduce a mechanism governing investigations of prosecutors and open senior State Attorney’s Office positions to candidates from outside the existing system.

For the Supreme Court, the party proposes public hearings for judicial candidates and a secret ballot among all Israeli judges to select the court’s president and deputy president. Judicial panels would be assigned through a computerized random-selection system.

Religious Zionism emphasized that ten Supreme Court justices are expected to be appointed during the next government’s term, giving the incoming coalition an opportunity to influence the court’s direction for years.

The plan also calls for regulating judicial review of constitutional matters, enacting an override clause allowing the Knesset to reenact certain laws struck down by the court, restoring restrictions on who may petition the court and establishing clearer procedural rules for Supreme Court proceedings.

In the area of governance, the proposal would abolish certain appointment committees and grant ministers and the government broader authority over senior public-sector appointments.

Its individual-rights provisions include time limits on investigations and prosecutions, ending the state’s ability to appeal criminal acquittals and abolishing the criminal offense of breach of trust.

The party also proposes expanding the broadcasting and recording of court proceedings and strengthening oversight of the judiciary and prosecution.

Changes to the political system would include lowering the electoral threshold, expanding surplus-vote agreements and introducing a semi-open ballot that would allow voters to influence the order of candidates on party lists.

The proposal would also alter the parliamentary-immunity process and postpone criminal proceedings involving certain alleged offenses by serving prime ministers and ministers until after they leave office.

“We are at a fateful crossroads for the State of Israel,” Smotrich said, pointing to the expected appointments of Supreme Court justices, an attorney general, a state prosecutor and other senior officials.

“Upon the establishment of the next government, we will demand the implementation of the plan that will change the rules of the game,” he said. “The government will be able to govern, the Knesset will be able to legislate, and the judicial system will operate strictly within its authorities.”

Rothman described the proposal as a plan to “return Israeli democracy to its proper course,” arguing that unelected judges and civil servants exercise excessive power.

Herzog condemns ‘offensive AI videos’

Herzog addressed the controversy during a ceremony in Jerusalem at which 79 new judges and senior registrars were sworn in.

“Elections are not a civil war—not even in offensive AI videos,” Herzog said, urging political leaders to conduct substantive debate. “We are meant to live here together, and only together do we have a shared future.”

The president said public confidence in the courts is built through their daily work rather than through political declarations or headlines. He stressed that nothing could justify violence and said an effective, accessible and impartial judicial system was essential to preventing people from turning to vigilantism and crime.

Herzog also called for broad agreement after the election on a Basic Law governing legislation and defining the boundaries between Israel’s branches of government.

Addressing the newly appointed judges, Herzog said they must remain outside political disputes and rule without fear or favoritism. Society and the state, he added, have a responsibility to protect their independence, safety and dignity.

Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, also denounced the video, calling it “despicable and violent.” He accused Smotrich of damaging the reputation of the wider religious-Zionist community and dragging Israeli society toward further division.