Haaretz Podcast

‘Corrupt and dangerous’: Benjamin Wittes on Israel’s judicial overhaul



The Israeli Supreme Court has a “huge amount of power while the foundation of that power is paper thin,” says Benjamin Wittes, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and editor-in-chief of the Lawfare Blog, in an interview with Haaretz Weekly host Allison Kaplan Sommer. 

This problematic combination, Wittes says, is why the Supreme Court is now “particularly vulnerable. It's as if you’ve built this giant and extremely powerful weapon, but built it on a pillar of sand.” 

In a deep dive, Wittes explains and analyzes each of the controversial reforms planned by the Netanyahu government, their implications for the U.S.-Israel relationship and the likelihood that, if they pass, Israel’s arguments for resisting international tribunals will be weakened. 

Some elements of the judicial reform, Wittes warns, are “corrupt” and “very dangerous.” And speaking personally as a legal scholar and expert who has “engaged deeply” with Israel in the past, he says that if the reforms are implemented, it would “fundamentally change my regard for the integrity of the Israeli legal system.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

...more

View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Haaretz PodcastBy Haaretz

  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3
  • 4.3

4.3

212 ratings


More shows like Haaretz Podcast

View all
The Promised Podcast by TLV1 Studios

The Promised Podcast

406 Listeners

Israel Story by Israel Story

Israel Story

1,193 Listeners

What Matters Now by The Times of Israel

What Matters Now

288 Listeners

Israel Policy Pod by Israel Policy Forum

Israel Policy Pod

171 Listeners

Decision Points by David Makovsky

Decision Points

114 Listeners

Identity/Crisis by Shalom Hartman Institute

Identity/Crisis

175 Listeners

Israel Daily News Podcast by Shanna Fuld

Israel Daily News Podcast

112 Listeners

For Heaven's Sake by Shalom Hartman Institute

For Heaven's Sake

339 Listeners

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor by Ark Media

Call Me Back - with Dan Senor

2,587 Listeners

Election Overdose Podcast by Haaretz.com

Election Overdose Podcast

14 Listeners

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing by The Times of Israel

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

914 Listeners

Unholy: Two Jews on the News by Keshet

Unholy: Two Jews on the News

558 Listeners

We Should All Be Zionists Podcast by Einat Wilf

We Should All Be Zionists Podcast

167 Listeners

Unapologetic: The Third Narrative by Ibrahim and Amira

Unapologetic: The Third Narrative

172 Listeners

Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam by Unpacked

Wondering Jews with Mijal and Noam

84 Listeners

Israel: State of a Nation by State of a Nation Podcast

Israel: State of a Nation

303 Listeners