Israel's coalition denies speeding up judicial reform legislation

Pressure for negotiations intensified as initiatives for negotiation were announced earlier in the week, including by President Isaac Herzog.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Justice Minister Yariv Levin during a discussion and a vote in the Knesset plenum on March 6, 2023 (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Justice Minister Yariv Levin during a discussion and a vote in the Knesset plenum on March 6, 2023
(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The coalition leaders denied or are unfamiliar with the proposal that the pace of the judicial reform legislative process would be increased in the coming week, as reported on Wednesday by Israeli media.

"We're not increasing the pace of legislation beyond the pace that has been until now," said a spokesperson for Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chairman Simcha Rothman.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin's office said that it was unfamiliar with such reports.

KAN Reshet B claimed on Wednesday that in the coming week, the pace of legislation would increase with the judicial review and override clause bill getting its first reading in the Knesset at the same time that the judge selection committee bill was prepared for second reading in a "series of marathon debates."

KAN's report comes as pressure for negotiations intensifies. Several initiatives for negotiation were announced earlier in the week, including by President Isaac Herzog.

 ATTORNEY-GENERAL Gali Baharav-Miara delivers an address in Haifa, last month. Despite the president’s request, the attorney-general has so far refused to release the prime minister from a complete prohibition of playing an active role in dealing with legal overhaul. (credit: SHIR TOREM/FLASH90)
ATTORNEY-GENERAL Gali Baharav-Miara delivers an address in Haifa, last month. Despite the president’s request, the attorney-general has so far refused to release the prime minister from a complete prohibition of playing an active role in dealing with legal overhaul. (credit: SHIR TOREM/FLASH90)

Could A-G declare Netanyahu's associates able to engage with reform?

One element that could allow for further development of the reforms comes from Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara saying on Wednesday that associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be able to engage with the judicial reform. Baharav-Miara has said that Netanyahu is unable to involve himself in the reform due to a conflict of interest agreement developed by her predecessor.

Netanyahu, who is subject to three ongoing corruption trials, is unable to engage in appointments of law and judicial officials, which is a subject of the judicial reform.

The judge selection committee bill discussions are set to begin on Sunday, according to the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee spokesperson but no vote was listed in the schedule posted Tuesday.

Kan's report comes as pressure for negotiations intensifies. Several initiatives for negotiation were announced earlier in the week, which the coalition has publicly said they would accept. Opposition and activist leaders have said that negotiations are only acceptable with the precondition of the cessation of legislation.

The Black Flags protest movement said that all the outlines and calls for negotiations proved that protests were working.


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Herzog had called an emergency meeting of 100 local government leaders on Monday, and said he would present an outline soon, though a document that his office said was falsely attributed to him was circulated on Tuesday. Since then, former Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin issued his own outline which called for the dissolution of the government. On Wednesday, former justice Minister Daniel Friedmann and other drafters presented their own outline to the coalition, which was mostly positively received.

Cabinet minister Yossi Fuchs said on Wednesday that "For some time now, great efforts have been made on the part of the president, government ministers, law professors and extra-parliamentary bodies, to reach a public consensus that will allow the legal reform to be passed, while making certain amendments that will reduce the height of the flames."

Fuchs reportedly received sanction from Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara to be able to involve himself in the reform on Wednesday. According to Walla!, The A-G said that associates of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would be able to engage with the judicial reform.

Baharav-Miara has previously said that Netanyahu is unable to involve himself in the reform due to a conflict of interest agreement developed by her predecessor. Netanyahu, who is subject to three ongoing corruption trials, is unable to engage in appointments of law and judicial officials, which is a subject of the judicial reform.