The judge and the attorney-general fighting for Israeli democracy

As she ended the marathon hearing late on September 12th, Esther Hayut, the president of Israel’s Supreme Court, wished the packed courtroom a “”. The Hebrew blessing, which means “a good final sealing” in the Book of Life, is usually proclaimed on the eve of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. That is still two weeks away, but her utterance seemed a fitting finish to the proceedings.For over 13 hours, all 15 justices, sitting together on one case for the first time in the court’s history, heard petitions demanding that they disqualify an amendment passed by the government seven weeks ago, limiting the judges’ powers. The main broadcasters suspended their programming to show the session. Spellbound, Israelis watched the arguments over the future of their democracy.