Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to impose more control over the Supreme Court would “deal a fatal blow” to the independence of judges, the court's head has warned.
The proposal, part of planned judicial reforms, has created concern that the changes may lead to laws that could affect the rights of secular liberals and minorities.
Mr Netanyahu, who took office as Prime Minister last month, says he will preserve the judiciary's independence.
But chief justice Esther Hayut warned the proposal would “deal a fatal blow” to the independence of Israel's judges.
She told local TV the plan was not to fix the justice system but “crush it”.
“The meaning of this plan is therefore to change the democratic identity of the country beyond recognition,” she said.
Attorney general Gali Baharav-Miara said the proposed legislation would “lead to an unbalanced system of checks and balances”, according to the Justice Ministry.
“The principle of majority rule will push other democratic values to the corner,” she said.
Yariv Levin, Israel's Justice Minister, said his plan would restore balance between the branches of government in light of judicial overreach.
He called the criticism “a call to set the streets on fire”.
Three Palestinians killed during raids
Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed three Palestinians during arrest raids in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, Palestinian health officials said.
The military has been carrying out near-nightly raids in the territory since early last year.
It said troops opened fire when Palestinians began throwing rocks and cement blocks from rooftops after soldiers entered the Qalandia refugee camp before dawn.
The Palestinian Health Ministry identified the man killed as Samir Aslan, 41.
Mr Aslan’s sister Noura said Israeli security forces broke into their house at 2.30am local time to arrest his 18-year-old son Ramzi, AP reported.
As Ramzi was being hauled away, his father sprinted to the rooftop to see what was happening, she said. Within moments, an Israeli sniper shot him in the back.
Mr Aslan’s wife called an ambulance, but Noura said the army initially prevented medics from reaching the house. As Mr Aslan was bleeding, his family dragged his body down the stairs and called for help. An ambulance picked him up 20 minutes later, Noura said.
The Israeli army also raided the northern West Bank on Thursday, entering the village of Qabatiya south of Jenin and surrounding a house in the town.
The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces fatally shot 25-year-old Habib Kamil and 18-year-old Abdel Hadi Nazal.
The Israeli army said security forces entered Qabatiya to arrest Muhammad Alauna, a Palestinian suspected of planning militant attacks.
The army said soldiers shot at a number of Palestinians during the raid, including a man who tried to flee the scene with Mr Alauna, a gunman who fired at the forces from inside his car as well as a group of Palestinians throwing rocks at Israeli troops.
The deaths on Thursday bring the total number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank this year to nine. They include two killed on Wednesday, one during an Israeli military raid in the territory’s north and another after stabbing an Israeli man in a southern settlement.
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
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16 years, 68 days old
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
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War 2
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Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
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The Ashes
Results
First Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 10 wickets
Second Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 120 runs
Third Test, Perth: Australia won by an innings and 41 runs
Fourth Test: Melbourne: Drawn
Fifth Test: Australia won by an innings and 123 runs
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The language of diplomacy in 1853
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
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The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
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Key facilities
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