Israel's parliament on Thursday passed a law expanding elected officials' power to appoint judges, defying a years-long movement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's contentious judicial reforms that saw massive street protests.

The approval comes as Netanyahu's government, one of the most right-wing in Israel's history, is locked in a standoff with the supreme court after beginning proceedings to dismiss Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and announcing the sacking of Ronen Bar, head of the internal security agency.

Critics said the new law was a "nail in the coffin of Israeli democracy," while the opposition swiftly filed a petition with the supreme court challenging the vote, viewing these judicial changes as signs of Netanyahu's authoritarian shift toward an illiberal democracy.

The legislation was approved by a vote of 67 in favour and one against, with the opposition boycotting the early-morning vote.

Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has 120 lawmakers.

The overall judicial reform package had sparked one of the largest protest movements in Israel's history in 2023 before being overtaken by the war in Gaza.

The war began........

© International Business Times