Gantz said threatening shuffle of judicial appointments panel

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz is reportedly threatening to push for a reshuffle of the Knesset’s judicial appointments panel, in a move designed to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into signing a unity government deal.

Gantz is warning that should the talks fail to yield a government and fourth elections are held, he’ll move up the vote on the key committee before the national vote.

During coalition talks, Netanyahu’s party was previously said to have demanded veto rights in the judicial appointments committee, or that decisions only pass with a majority of eight out of nine members. Those demands were then shelved — with the parties agreeing that any decisions be made in agreement — before Likud was reported to have gone back on the matter, leading negotiations to stall.

The negotiations are ongoing.