As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for a negotiated settlement on his government’s controversial plan to weaken the judiciary on Sunday, a key architect of the plan warned that the coalition’s survival depended on the overhaul being passed.
“We have a fundamental debate regarding legal reform, but we are trying to resolve this debate through dialogue,” Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.
“With the goodwill of both sides, I am confident that agreement can be reached – and I fully support it,” he said.
Shortly before those comments by Netanyahu, religious Zionist MK Simcha Rothman warned that the government’s survival depended on passing the metamorphosis.
“Legal reform will pass – it is necessary for the survival of the coalition. And not only do I think so, it is also in the coalition agreements,” Rothman told the Ynet news site.
“I don’t know how and when, but there will be a reform,” said the far-right lawmaker. “The State of Israel cannot be left in limbo for long.”
Religious Judaism MK Simcha Rothman at the Knesset in Jerusalem on March 27, 2023 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Asked if there was a time frame for the talks, Rothman said it was “not up to them.” but claimed that last week mass rally In support of the overhaul “forces a deadline.”
Senior opposition MPs have questioned the coalition’s commitment to reaching a broad consensus with the opposition on judicial reform during their ongoing talks in recent weeks.
Last week, Justice Minister Yariv Levin gave a speech at the rally, in which he lashed out at the Supreme Court and defended the far-reaching proposals to transform the judiciary that he is considering.
National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz rebuked the justice minister and other coalition leaders for “instigating and lying” during the Jerusalem demonstration on Friday.
“Levin’s false and unrestrained comments against the High Court make it difficult to think positively about the ability to reach agreements in talks at the president’s residence, agreements that are essential to the Israeli people at this time,” he said in a statement. “
Turning to the rally, Gantz called the protest “a sacred right in a democracy and it’s what we’re fighting for,” but condemned the protesters filmed A giant banner with the faces of Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayat, Attorney General Gali Bahraw-Miara and several former top judicial and legal officials carried slogans against him. It was unclear whether this was done intentionally or whether the banner had been placed on the ground for some time, later being picked up by activists as they marched near the Knesset.
National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz speaks during a faction meeting in the Knesset on April 19, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
“In the State of Israel, which has excellent and strong judicial institutions, a justice minister cannot incite against judges. You can criticize, but not provoke,” Gantz said, adding that Levin’s comments “cause those who really want agreements … to ask themselves whether the other side wants them too.” “
Rothman claimed Sunday that Gantz’s comments showed the opposition lawmaker “has no interest in the conversation or his success.”
Meanwhile, unnamed senior sources in the Likud party attacked Levin on Sunday, saying he was heavily damaging Netanyahu with the aim of replacing him as prime minister.
The source said, “Levin turns out to be a cunning and dangerous Viper.”
“He is blackmailing the prime minister,” the unnamed source said, adding that it is impossible to govern when “enemies are stirring up trouble from within.”
During this hundreds of protesters mobilized Israel to pass explosive bills to radically undermine the judiciary as the Knesset reopens for its summer session on Saturday evening, as part of ongoing demonstrations against the government’s controversial judicial reform The possibility of a renewed push increased.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, April 30, 2023. (Pool Photo via Abeer Sultan/AP)
A major reform bill bringing judicial appointments under political control has almost passed all legislative stages and is set to be passed within days if the coalition wants it.
However, analysts and commentators believe the coalition will not advance any legislation before passing the state budget, which the ruling bloc must do by May 29 or face automatic elections.
Critics say the metamorphosis, which would transfer much of the power of the judiciary into the hands of the government, would make Israel a democracy in name only, leaving minority rights largely unprotected and subject to the whims of Netanyahu’s hard-right government. Will save the leaders from accountability. Supporters say the changes are needed to rein in what they see as an overly active court.
Polls have consistently shown that the law is widely unpopular in its current form, and support for the government has declined since the election.
At the main rally in Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street, protest leaders announced they would intensify activities on Thursday, marking it as “National Equality Day”.
