Indirect Talks on Judicial Reform Under Way

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – Government and opposition leaders were holding indirect talks on the judicial reform crisis with President Isaac Herzog acting as mediator via phone and written messages, Globes reported on Thursday.

Herzog, who has been actively promoting a compromise to the controversy that he has said threatens constitutional and social breakdown, talked separately with MK Simcha Rothman and Justice Minister Yariv Levin on the one hand, and Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid on the other.

The four have so far refused to meet face-to-face, as they wrangle over a proposed moratorium on legislative action on the reform bills. Lapid on Wednesday demanded a 60-day halt before direct talks could begin, not satisfied with a week’s delay on some of the bills announced by the coalition.

Globes quoted sources who said that the sides have been asked to submit their comments on a compromise drafted by Herzog, and some comments have been received.

On the coalition side, Shas leader Rabbi Aryeh Deri is reportedly a strong voice in favor of dialogue. Some members of the Religious Zionist party have come out in support of compromise, as well.

Rothman, who is chairperson of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, while committed to bringing the first two bills enacting the reforms before the Knesset for first reading this Monday, has indicated he would consider further postponement if there is progress in the talks.

Despite tremendous pressure – from street demonstrations and daily warnings from the legal, financial and academic communities that his program would ruin the country – Levin has refused to moderate his proposals for far-reaching changes in the balance of power between the Knesset and the High Court that would see the latter significantly weakened.

Chairman of the United Torah Judaism party Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf sent a letter to Levin and Likud faction head MK Ofir Katz objecting to the postponement of the bill to enable the Knesset to override the High Court. Rabbi Goldknopf noted that UTJ and other coalition partners joined the government on condition that such legislation be passed, in compliance with the directive of ‏‏the Council of Torah Sages. He urged the Likud to fulfill the coalition agreements.

On the other side, Gantz continues to advocate dialogue, and Lapid is said to be examining the various compromise formulas and responding to them.

Meanwhile, Herzog asked Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara to permit Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to participate in the compromise talks, according to Haaretz on Thursday.

But Baharav-Miara told Herzog that Netanyahu cannot take part, due to a conflict of interest arrangement barring him from involvement in matters that could affect his ongoing trial on corruption charges, such as the planned overhaul of the judiciary. Earlier this week, Netanyahu’s lawyers asked her permission for Netanyahu to make public statements about the judicial overhaul plan, but were rebuffed, according to media reports