Yariv Levin is a senior Israeli lawmaker in the Likud Party and currently serves as the country's justice minister and deputy prime minister. He previously served as Knesset speaker, aliyah and integration minister, tourism minister, and public security minister.
A longtime member of the Likud, Levin's influence in Israeli politics skyrocketed in 2023 when he announced a wide-ranging overhaul of the country's judicial system. Created and spearheaded by both himself and MK Simcha Rothman, judicial reform was highly controversial and sparked massive nationwide protests for months on end, interrupted only by the October 7 massacre and Israel's subsequent war against Hamas.
The ten justices did not apply for the position, but Levin announced their candidacy on Sunday regardless, citing the wording of Israeli law.
Levin explained on Monday that the Judicial Appointments Committee will now vet all 12 candidates, and this will reveal their “true face” by exposing public complaints against them.
The Justice Minister must name Chief Justice candidates by the end of the day.
In a new ruling, Israel's Supreme Court mandates Justice Minister Levin to convene the Judicial Selection Committee to appoint a new chief justice, challenging his year-long delay tactics.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin may amend legislation to delay appointing a new chief justice, aligning with his preferred judicial appointments.
Lapid said that if Levin refused to respect the High Court decision, he would act so that the committee convened regardless.
The High Court ordered Justice Minister Yariv Levin to start the process of appointing a Chief Justice, raising criticism from ministers and coalition members.
With the justice minister blocking Supreme Court appointments and ministers defying the attorney general, Israel's democracy faces a critical test.
The recordings showed that the IBA representative on the committee, Yechiel Katz, worked on behalf of Nave to have Mandelblit appointed.
Israel’s Supreme Court faces a crisis as its president and two justices retire, with Justice Minister Yariv Levin delaying new appointments amid disputes over judicial reforms.
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