Tuesday Briefing: A momentous ruling in Israel

The court decision could ignite a constitutional crisis.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story January 2, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning. We're covering a landmark court ruling in Israel and an earthquake in Japan. Plus: Take five minutes to rest. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. Pool photo by Menahem Kahana Israel's top court rejects law limiting judiciary In a momentous 8-to-7 ruling that could ignite a constitutional crisis, Israel's Supreme Court struck down a law passed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government in July to limit the court's own powers. The law would have barred judges from overruling decisions made by government ministers. Read the latest news. The decision is likely to rekindle the grave domestic situation that began a year ago over the government's judicial overhaul plan — which sparked mass protests that brought the country to a near standstill at times — even as Israel is at war in Gaza. The ruling heralds a potential showdown between the top judicial authority and the ruling coalition. Here's what the justices wrote. In a country that has one house of Parliament, no formal written constitution and a largely ceremonial president, many defenders of Israel's liberal democracy view the Supreme Court as the only bulwark against government power. Background: Netanyahu's governing coalition, the most right-wing and religiously conservative in Israel's history, has argued that the Supreme Court has overreached its authority and subverted the will of the voters and the function of the elected government. In other news from the war: Israel announced that it would begin withdrawing several thousand troops from Gaza, at least temporarily, citing a growing toll on the Israeli economy. Half of Gaza's population of about 2.2 million is at risk of starvation, according to the U.N. Wajima was one of the areas hit hardest by the quake in Japan. Yusuke Fukuhara/Yomiuri Shimbun, via Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A powerful earthquake strikes Japan An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale hit western Japan around 4:10 p.m. yesterday. The quake triggered evacuation orders in several prefectures, trapped people under collapsed buildings and disrupted electricity for tens of thousands in Ishikawa Prefecture, the epicenter of the quake, officials and Japan's public broadcaster said. See a map of the earthquake. Officials issued tsunami warnings, then downgraded them to advisories, signaling a lower risk of dangerous waves hitting the western coastline. Still, the authorities urged people to remain cautious and to avoid going near the coast until the advisory was lifted. "We will build up the strikes," President Vladimir Putin of Russia, right, said. Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik, via Reuters Putin vows to continue bombardment In rare public comments, President Vladimir Putin of Russia vowed to continue missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, in retaliation for what he called a "terror" attack that killed at least 22 people in the Russian city of Belgorod on Saturday. Russia's armed forces have in recent days pummeled Ukrainian cities with some of the largest rocket strikes since the start of the invasion. The cycle of strikes and retaliation is raising fears of escalating civilian casualties in the conflict, which began in February 2022. Quotable: "They want to scare us, to create a certain uncertainty inside the country," Putin said. "From our side, we will build up the strikes." In Moscow: A prison wedding offered a glimpse into the lives of Russia's political prisoners. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Around the World Dado Galdieri for The New York Times A New Year's Eve tradition in Rio de Janeiro has its origins in Afro-Brazilian spiritualism. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of South Korea's main opposition party, was stabbed in the neck in the city of Busan. A suspect was apprehended by police. Pope Francis raised concerns about the situation of the Roman Catholic Church in Nicaragua, amid a crackdown by the government. The Chinese automaker BYD sold more than three million battery-powered cars in 2023, the company's most ever. From the U.S. Jordan Gale for The New York Times Donald Trump's boldest legal defense? That he is absolutely immune from prosecution for actions he took while in office. Since the death in 2020 of George Floyd, a national movement promised sweeping justice reform. But are juries convicting police officers? Migrants, sent mostly from Texas, arrived at train stops in New Jersey over the weekend to sidestep a new order set by New York City officials limiting the flow of arrivals. High interest rates and home prices are driving down the U.S. housing market and related sectors. A Morning Read LMPC, via Getty Images Some big works, including the original version of Mickey Mouse, entered the public domain yesterday in the U.S. — meaning that those characters and stories can be remade on the page, stage or screen without permission. SPORTS NEWS Free agents in 2024: The soccer players who can now sign precontract agreements. Men's golf circuits: The PGA Tour and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league extended their deadline to finalize a deal on a partnership. The best that money could buy: How an influx of cash has changed college sports. The voice of soccer: Life as a Premier League commentator. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. ARTS AND IDEAS Find five minutes to rest Research suggests that taking short revitalizing breaks can help you fortify yourself throughout the day. These breaks aren't naps, but they offer similar benefits, by restoring attention, reducing fatigue, increasing vitality and improving well-being and mood. Dr. Sue Varma, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the N.Y.U. Grossman School of Medicine, calls these "oasis moments" — five or so minutes in a calming spot, spent doing something you enjoy. It could be a quick walk or a coffee, or simply taking slow, deep breaths away from your work. Afterward, notice how you feel: Are you a little more refreshed? If you enjoyed this exercise, consider scheduling a five-minute break every day this week, and in the weeks and months following, to keep the rewards coming. Try a guided daytime rest exercise here. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS Craig Lee for The New York Times Cook: Let the humble baked potato be your blank canvas. Anticipate: The shows, movies and more that our critics are looking forward to in 2024. Recover: Feeling sluggish? Take our quiz to find out why. Predict: 12 trends for 2024. Read: A bracing anthology of Christopher Hitchens's work for The London Review of Books. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha P.S. Take this week's history quiz. You can reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. 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