’Democracy dies in a series of small steps’: Justices challenge overhaul * Analysis: Must have constitution * Lesson from Poland * Iran builds ’terror’ airport in Lebanon

[Times of Israel]( [The daily edition]( Tuesday, September 12, 2023 Presented by [Prian.Info]( [At crucial hearing, judges challenge assertion they can’t intervene in Basic Laws]( By Jeremy Sharon Debating reasonableness law, coalition lawyer argues it doesn’t erode democracy, calls Declaration of Independence ‘hasty’ and nonbinding; Rothman implies justices are an oligarchy [Israel on edge as Supreme Court convenes for historic, crucial overhaul hearing]( By ToI Staff [Security for justices said boosted ahead of high-stakes judicial overhaul hearing]( By ToI Staff Live updates [LIVE: Hayut: There needs to be ‘mortal blow’ to democracy to justify striking down Basic Law]( By ToI Staff In key hearing, judges also cite Declaration of Independence as source of court’s power to void Basic Laws; AG’s office: Reasonableness legislation a dramatic blow to rule of law Analysis Haviv Rettig Gur [Neither coalition nor High Court respects Basic Laws. Urgently needed: A constitution]( An immediate constitutional crisis is unlikely, but no enduring reform or end to the impasse is possible without deep trust — which no one in our system of government now enjoys from our sponsor [PRIAN – your unique world-wide property search engine]( More than 100 000 real estate objects for sale and rent all over the world, guides on purchasing procedures, maintaining properties, taxes and immigration. [Tens of thousands rally against overhaul at High Court on eve of pivotal hearing]( By ToI Staff Demonstration held in Jerusalem day before judges mull petitions against reasonableness law, the only piece of legislation passed so far in Netanyahu government’s judicial shakeup [ToI podcast / Daily Briefing Sept. 12: Justices take adversarial tone in overhaul hearing]( By ToI Staff [Netanyahu backs judicial compromise talks, but coalition allies balk at ‘surrender’]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn PM says partners won’t torpedo any possible deal on reform, as Smotrich rejects compromise on judge selection, Ben Gvir calls on others to oppose ‘surrender’ Interview [A lesson from Poland, where protests failed to turn back autocracy at the ballot box]( By Carrie Keller-Lynn Unable to convert anti-autocratic rallies into parliamentary control, Poles now face worsening repression, says historian Anne Applebaum, who sees echoes in Israel’s experience [Fearing crisis, secular and devout unveil new Israeli manifesto at Ben Gurion’s home]( By Canaan Lidor The document, authored by prominent individuals from both sides of the religious divide, seeks to address what it means to have a Jewish state Top Ops Nir Evron [Liberal Israel’s rude awakening]( Why didn’t they notice the country’s long slide toward full-blown illiberalism? Because it wasn’t yet happening to them. Alon Levavi [Shaken foundations: Israel’s race against the inevitable]( The earthquake in Morocco wasn’t just seismic waves; it was a global alarm bell, emphasizing the urgency of preparedness [Justices take adversarial tone in overhaul hearing]( [listen to the podcast]( [Iran building airport in southern Lebanon to attack Israelis, Gallant says]( By Emanuel Fabian DM claims facility, 20 km from Israel, to be used by Iran ‘for terror purposes’ against Israel; IDF chief: We must be ‘more prepared than ever’ for ‘extensive military conflict’ [Head of UN watchdog decries ‘decrease in interest’ over Iran’s nuclear advances]( By AFP [US clears way to free 5 Iranians, $6 billion in frozen funds for prisoner exchange]( By Matthew Lee [Moroccan Jews reportedly all safe in devastating quake that has killed over 2,800]( By PHILISSA CRAMER and Eliyahu Freedman 6.8-magnitude quake, centered in Atlas Mountains near Marrakesh, struck at time of heightened Jewish tourism ahead of High Holidays [US, EU condemn plan for Jewish enclave in Palestinian Abu Dis]( By Jacob Magid Washington says project undermines two-state solution, which US looks to advance via Saudi deal; municipal panel meets to approve plan as top Biden official arrives in Israel [US said to transfer armored vehicles, weapons to PA to clamp down on West Bank terror]( By ToI Staff [Israel eases entry for Gazan-Americans, meeting US Visa Waiver Program benchmark]( By Jacob Magid [‘Give him a chance’: Likud ministers back ex-con running for Herzliya city council]( By ToI Staff Parade of senior party figures turn out for campaign launch of Rafi Chaim-Kedoshim, a member of a local crime family who has served four separate prison sentences [CRM]( [Lawsuit claims California school district covertly approved anti-Israel curricula]( By Luke Tress Leading Jewish groups seek to block ethnic studies courses at Orange County schools, claiming board illegally avoided notifying public, referred to issue as ‘the Jewish question’ [2 more US synagogues targeted by fake bomb threats ahead of High Holidays]( By Andrew Lapin More Headlines [Up to 2,000 feared dead in Libyan city inundated by storm]( By Samy Magdy [Apartment sales in July plummeted 27% from a year ago, new figures show]( By ToI Staff [UK foreign secretary in Israel to talk Iran threats, Palestinian state]( By AP and ToI Staff [5 Israeli suspects in Cyprus gang rape remanded in custody for another 6 days]( By ToI Staff [Cabinet delays decision on Palestinian prisoner visits, despite Ben Gvir’s insistence]( By ToI Staff [Israeli life sciences firms’ capital-raising slows 40% in first half of 2023]( By Sharon Wrobel [With COVID cases on the rise, Magen David Adom asks public to donate plasma]( By Renee Ghert-Zand [Amid ongoing milk shortage, Israel lifts 40% import tariff for another six months]( By Sharon Wrobel [Rahat man suspected of killing wife, turning gun on self]( By ToI Staff [US neo-Nazi extradited to Netherlands for projecting message on Anne Frank House]( By Andrew Lapin [The daily edition]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? 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