Bennett says judicial overhaul ‘dangerous,’ calls on government, opposition to talk

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett weighs in on the current government’s controversial plan to radically alter the judicial system, calling on the government and the opposition to work together to find common ground on the issue.

Bennett says he has long been in favor of reforms to Israel’s judiciary, “but you don’t fix a historical distortion with another distortion.” The former prime minister, who bowed out of politics ahead of last year’s election, says there is “no choice” but for “both sides” of the debate to sit down for talks immediately.

Bennett says the opposition must understand that the public elected this government. “It has a mandate to make changes, there will be changes and that’s good.” But the government must understand that they cannot “go to the opposite extreme of ending checks and balances, neutering the judicial system,” and giving the prime minister sole power to appoint judges.”

Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s current proposal is “dangerous,” says Bennett, and will “harm the foundations of the State of Israel,” as well as cause divisions in society.

National Unity party head Benny Gantz has repeatedly called on the government to work with opposition figures to come to an agreement on some reforms, but has been rebuffed.