Gantz Urges Joint Panel to Formulate Judicial Reforms, Calls it an Emergency

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM — Following Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s speech launching the new government’s agenda of sweeping judiciary reform, National Unity party leader Benny Gantz on Thursday called on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to form a panel of representatives from both the coalition and the opposition to formulate a joint plan to implement changes within six months.

In response to Levin’s speech the night before, which elicited approval from the right and denunciations from the left, Gantz said: “We are in a real emergency, and therefore I call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to make a decision: negotiation or confrontation,” Gantz said.

“An issue so fundamental to our future and existence for decades ahead deserves to be done with a broad consensus,” he said, referring to Levin’s outline to curb what the right perceives as judicial overreach, by providing for Knesset override when the High Court strikes down legislation and other measures. Opponents charge that it will “shackle” the judicial branch and undermine democracy, while proponents of the plan argue that it will restore balance to the Israeli system.

Gantz warned that if the plan passed it would “change the regime in Israel.

“If in the State of Israel there will be an override clause with a majority of 61; if legal advisors will answer to the power of politicians and not of the law; if judges will be chosen by a political coalition majority and will depend on it; and if the High Court’s authority to invalidate radically unreasonable conduct is abolished – the fortress will indeed fall. The red line will be crossed and Israel will become a hollow democracy,” Gantz said.

So far, there has been no comment from Netanyahu’s or Levin’s offices to Gantz’s overture.