Netanyahu Hospitalized for Pacemaker Surgery; Vows to Continue with Judicial Reform

Netanyahu Hospitalized for Pacemaker Surgery; Vows to Continue with Judicial Reform

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was urgently admitted to hospital for an unscheduled pacemaker implant surgery on early Sunday. This further complicates the existing upheaval in the country following nationwide protests against his controversial plan for judicial reform.

The Prime Minister’s office stated that Netanyahu would be sedated during the procedure, with his primary deputy, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, filling his role in the interim. Nevertheless, in a short video message, Netanyahu affirmed his robust health and determination to carry on with his reform plan once discharged. The reform plan’s architect is none other than Levin.

The news of Netanyahu’s hospitalization, released after midnight, comes a week after his hospital visit due to dehydration, adding to the tumultuous political landscape marked by massive protests against the judicial reform.

On Saturday night, hundreds of thousands of Israelis rallied on the streets throughout the country, with many camping out near the Knesset (Parliament) in Jerusalem, bracing for a decisive vote on Monday that could greenlight part of the judicial reform.

Adding to Netanyahu’s predicament, over a hundred former security chiefs backed the growing number of military reservists threatening to quit their duties if the reform passes.

In January, Netanyahu and his far-right partners proposed the reform just days after assuming office, arguing it is essential to check the undue influence of unelected judges. Detractors worry that the reform could dismantle the system of checks and balances, propelling the country toward autocracy. US President Joe Biden has called on Netanyahu to pause the plan and seek wider consensus.

Despite the busy schedule and the recent health issues, Netanyahu’s office maintains that the 73-year-old leader is in good health. His sudden hospitalization on July 15 due to dizziness, attributed to dehydration, was followed by another admission for pacemaker installation, hinting at more serious health concerns than initially revealed.

Regarding the future of the judicial reform amidst his hospitalization, the situation remains unclear. Netanyahu anticipates being discharged in time for Monday’s crucial vote. Meanwhile, the Cabinet’s routine Sunday morning meeting has been postponed.

A pacemaker, as defined by the National Institutes of Health, is used to regulate a slow heart rhythm, preventing fainting episodes, and sometimes used in treating heart failure. The device maintains normal heart rhythm by delivering electrical pulses. Patients with pacemakers typically resume normal activities within days after the procedure.

As Netanyahu addressed his country, thousands of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem’s main park after a four-day march from Tel Aviv to demonstrate against the proposed judicial reform. The rally culminated in a show of force on Saturday night, with Israelis flooding the streets across multiple cities, hoping to prevent the reform.

The proposed reform has stirred significant backlash from various sectors, including business and medical leaders. Increasing numbers of key military reservists have also threatened to refrain from duty if the reform is approved, sparking worries over potential security risks. More than 100 prominent former security heads, including military commanders and intelligence agency chiefs, echoed this sentiment, accusing Netanyahu of endangering Israel’s military and urging a halt to the legislation.

Netanyahu, in response, reassures his continued efforts to find a compromise with his critics. Despite pausing the reform in March following mass protests, he revived it last month after the breakdown of compromise discussions.

Israel Katz, a senior minister from Netanyahu’s Likud party, asserted that the bill would pass on Monday and dismissed pressure from the military sector. The reform would restrict the Supreme Court’s oversight capabilities by stopping judges from overturning government decisions on grounds of being “unreasonable”.

Critics argue that the reform paves the way for government overreach, allowing arbitrary decisions, unjust hiring and firing, and potential corruption. The reform, in addition to limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to challenge parliamentary decisions, also proposes a change in the process of judge appointments.

The wide-ranging opposition to the overhaul is largely seen as a reaction against Netanyahu, who is currently facing corruption charges, and his allies’ alleged attempt to solidify control over the occupied West Bank and maintain the contentious draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men.

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More about Netanyahu’s pacemaker surgery and judicial reform

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• US President Joe Biden urges Netanyahu to seek broader consensus on judicial reform