Gantz says judicial overhaul will ‘crush entire country if we don’t stop it now’

Opposition party head MK Benny Gantz says that the reasonableness curtailment bill is a gateway to removing other judicial checks on political power.

“The significance of the law that you are seeking to advance here today is the beginning of a dangerous process of removing restrictions from the government and erasing judicial review,” the National Unity party head says.

“This snowball that is starting to roll here today will grow, gain momentum, and crush the entire country, if we do not stop it now,” he adds.

If courts cannot use the reasonableness standard to scrutinize elected officials’ decisions, Gantz says that election law, the attorney general’s independence, and the appointment of competent officials are in danger.

He renews his call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt the legislation and return to judicial reform negotiations, previously hosted by President Isaac Herzog, before Gantz and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid froze them in June, over fears that the coalition would not staff the judicial appointments authority.

Turning to Netanyahu, Gantz says: “Don’t abandon the State of Israel, don’t abandon the citizens of Israel, don’t abandon security and the economy. Stop everything — send your team to the President’s Residence now, talk about everything there and with a comprehensive and long-term view. It will be complex, that’s right.”

“The responsibility is on you – the results of the current unilateral process will harm all of us,” he adds.