Legislation adopted Wednesday to change the composition of the committee that selects judges in the country is a major step in the ruling coalition’s plan to alter Israel’s system of government, senior opposition Knesset member Karin Elharar told Al-Monitor.

A former energy minister and a member of Yesh Atid, Israel's largest opposition and centrist party, Elharar serves on the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. She and Yoav Segalovich from the Democrats, an alliance between the Labor and leftwing Meretz parties, filed a petition with the Supreme Court on Thursday to overturn the new legislation. The first court hearing is scheduled for June 4.

"This horrendous legislation changes the composition of the committee that nominates judges, turning it into a political body," said Elharar. "Israel’s democracy is based on the principle of separation of powers. Changing the composition of the committee hurts that principle, nullifying the independence of the judiciary. The judges nominated by the committee will find it hard to ignore the agenda of the politicians who gave them their job."

What are the changes?