From the Liveblog of
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Gantz says open to discussing judicial proposal if it’s not ‘a prelude’ to revived overhaul
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
While National Unity chairman Benny Gantz believes Israel should remain focused on winning the current war, Gantz says he is willing to discuss Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s proposed changes to the judicial system.
“To carry out a broad and correct reform in the judicial system that will strengthen democracy, broad agreements are needed, time is needed and, above all, trust is needed,” Gantz says in a lengthy video statement, arguing such changes are “not something that should be done in a hurry during wartime.”
Despite his reservations, Gantz says that many disagree with him while calling for talks on the issue between coalition and opposition representatives.
However, he continues, several conditions must be met before any talks can be held, including the selection of a new Supreme Court president and “stopping all proposals that harm democracy in the current Knesset.”
“The coalition must commit that the government will stop all moves for regime changes and initiatives that harm the judicial system,” including the current push to fire the attorney general, he declares.
“Ministers in the government will uphold court rulings or be fired,” Gantz continues. “Our goal in striving for agreements is to stop the rift in the nation, provide peace, and deal with urgent issues for the country, and not turn it into a prelude to a return to a coup d’état.”
