Yariv Levin calls for judicial reform, Gantz: Reforms led to October 7

Flares fired at PM's home ignite clash as Levin calls to revive judicial reforms, while Gantz links reforms to Oct. 7 vulnerabilities.

 JUSTICE MINISTER Yariv Levin attends a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.  (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
JUSTICE MINISTER Yariv Levin attends a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

MK Benny Gantz slammed Deputy Prime Minister Yariv Levin in an X/Twitter post on Saturday evening after Levin made an earlier statement supporting the judicial reform movement.

According to Israeli media reports, Levin made a statement calling for the return of the judicial reform movement while condemning the firing of two flares at the prime minister's residence in Caesarea on Saturday. 

"The time has come to provide full support for the restoration of the judicial and law enforcement systems," Levin reportedly said.

"It's time for all coalition members, all factions, and all Knesset members to announce their unequivocal support for the moves I led that were stopped and any other move needed to change the situation," Levin continued

"The time has come to give full backing to rehabilitate the justice system and law enforcement systems and to put an end to anarchy, rampage, insubordination, and attempts to harm the prime Minister," he added.

 National Unity Party leader MK Benny Gantz is seen addressing the Knesset plenum during a discussion regarding the reasonableness standard bill, in Jerusalem, on July 23, 2023. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
National Unity Party leader MK Benny Gantz is seen addressing the Knesset plenum during a discussion regarding the reasonableness standard bill, in Jerusalem, on July 23, 2023. (credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

In his response, Gantz wrote that the judicial reform movement Levin led was a partial cause for the October 7 Hamas attacks, saying that it "brought disaster to the State of Israel, tore us apart from the inside."

It plays "a large factor in the fact that we reached October 7," he wrote.

"The fact that he dares mention returning to it while Israeli society is entirely mobilized for a difficult war proves that not only has he not learned the lesson - he is also an irresponsible person. The entire government and the prime minister have the ultimate responsibility to remove the issue from the chapter quickly, sharply, and clearly," Gantz concluded. 

Orit Farkash-Hacohen

MK Orit Farkash-Hacohen also responded to Levin, saying, “Two flares are not the reason for the return of the judicial reform. You need the reform so that no one will interfere with: Not establishing a state commission of inquiry for October 7; legislating the draft-dodging law; amending election laws in your favor; crushing protesters and the right to protest.”