an appointee to the Supreme Court must first pass approval in the House and Senate

Exactly I was afraid of after the "boycott law" this would happen, and we will see more of these type of proposals in the future. it has nothing to do with "left or right" it has to do with power. Democracy? "when free speech is restricted, democracy dies"

Your assumption is that the Left relies heavily on the Judicial system and obeys the rule of law. As we've seen in Leftist NGOs and their supporters, the rule of law is followed only when it fits their agenda. Take the illegal flotillas to Gaza - they insisted on making the trip despite the ruling that the blockade is legal, that no humanitarian crisis exists there, and despite local rulings blocking their departure. Take the Sheik Jarrah homes as another example. Homes stolen from Jews in an ethnic cleansing and illegal annexation by Arabs were returned to their rightful owners who produced the proper legal deeds. That didn't stop Leftists from calling these Jews "settlers" and decrying Jews entering the neighborhood - not because of ownership issues but because they want the Arab neighborhood to remain homogeneous (which it wasn't before 1948). That's racism and that's illegal. So, the Left won't really miss the courts except when they try to use democracy to screw people around them.

Israel didn't occupy Gaza or the West Bank in 1967, they reclaimed it from an illegal annexation and ethnic cleansing. Are you willing to be part and parcel to that war crime from 1949-1967? And despite your claims, it's not this fictional "occupation" that is gnawing at Israeli society, it's greed and corruption in the halls of politics and business resulting from an influx of capital because of Israel's success. Israel could pull out of the West Bank tomorrow, but once the Leviathan gas field comes on the line and the money flows, the corruption and disparity will only grow worse.

This is a long awaited move and I hope it passes and the Knesset makes sure the SC doesn't declare it "unconstitutional" To # 18--Interesting how when those voted in by the people do something against the left it is meddling. BUT when the SC sticks its' ugly head into every facet of Israeli society--that is okay. As others have said, the US--which has separation of powers gets its SC justices in the proposed fashion. It is way past time to do away with the club of self-selected mini-dictators which calls itself the Israeli Supreme Court.

Who wins?

leftists. They should have NO power until they are democratically placed.

Well Sharon, what is exactly democracy in your world. What is being advocated is a similar process that takes place in the US with supreme court justices. It allows for overview by the people (MKs are the reps of the people even here). The problem is that you actually have no idea what democracy is. Our system now allows one legal ideology to perpetuate itself without regard for the complete make0up of society.

I had no idea what a stupid system we're operating under in Israel: judges picking judges!? WITHOUT an EXTENSIVE PUBLIC HEARING??? Good grief, how stupid could a system get. In the US, we submit potential supreme court nominees to a brutal marathon of questions in public. GREAT BILL but I'm completely SHOCKED how it was until recently...that's just plain stupid! Hope the bill passes. I see Israel beginning to deal with smarter govt policies: the leftists have held far too much sway: that's NOT democracy when there is mob rule....well, perhaps it is. DRAW UP A CONSTITUTION NOW!!!!

Supreme Court justices in the US are chosen to interpret a written constitution. In Israel there is no wriiten constitution, so justices interpret according to jurispudence and internationa law. This is a second best option. Without a written constitution to interpret, the choosing of justices by political cronyism will destroy democracy. It means that the majority (left or right) can do whatever it likes.

How can a law be "unconstitutional" if the country doesn't have a constitution?...

It's absurd that in a country with no formal constitution, a powerful, self-appointed clique gets to determine what is law and isn't valid law. The opponents of this bill are whining about losing their privilege.

I agree - Of course judges shouldn't select judges - this way the people are completely excluded. Still a justice committee is a totally blunt tool. One needs open elections. Only this is real democracy. In the US, all DAs and many judges are appointed by popular vote. In Israel, because of the danger to the Jewish population from the outside, Judges should be voted in by the population of those who served in the army. Of course, one shouldn't do an election cycle every 4-6 years - this would only lead to a party representation. Of course, if there is no constitution, judges need to be guided by Knesset laws only. The only leaway is where one law contradicts another. So to assure the right interpretation, all judges need to be popularly elected. Instead, every year a new judge should be voted in, and every year a judge who served for 9 years should be retired. Unless the old judge is the one reelected. This way, one would have a caucus of judges all elected in different years.