Israel’s highest court has invalidated a controversial judicial overhaul law passed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government last year.

The law, resembling a constitutional amendment, aimed to curtail the Supreme Court’s authority to annul government decisions deemed “unreasonable in the extreme.”

The court’s decision to strike down this legislation may reignite the social and political tensions stemming from the previous year’s judicial reform.

This development occurs amidst ongoing challenges, including the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on southern Israel and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Prior to the attack, widespread protests had erupted against Netanyahu’s efforts to limit the court’s powers and enhance government control.

The court’s decision was reached with eight justices in favor of striking down the law and seven against.

Written by B.C. Begley

Israel’s Supreme Court on Monday struck down a law pushed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government that would have limited the court’s power. The law, passed by the Israeli Parliament in July, had sharply divided Israelis and sparked mass protests. https://t.co/rRc8H7Z6oe pic.twitter.com/yy0P8LS5Zf

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