Gantz says ‘there will be no talks’ if Netanyahu advances overhaul legislation

Opposition figure Benny Gantz says his National Unity party will not return to judicial reform negotiations if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu independently advances changes to the judicial system.

“If there is unilateral legislation, there will be no talks,” says Gantz, in comments made while touring southern Israel.

“If Netanyahu goes for unilateral legislation and again takes the same aggressive and steamrolling actions, he will harm democracy, Israeli society, the economy, and security. And after all this, he will also fail. He will not have a majority of the people, he will not have a majority in the Knesset,” Gantz continues.

Earlier today, Netanyahu promised to immediately take steps to advance legislation, which National Unity and fellow opposition party Yesh Atid have marked as a red line in the discussions. However, last Wednesday, Gantz and Lapid withdrew from negotiations, accusing Netanyahu of breaking his promise to fully staff and convene the panel that selects judges.

Gantz urges Netanyahu to “keep your promise at the President’s Residence and complete the process [of staffing] the Judicial Selection Committee, to fulfill the promise made to the citizens of Israel and reach agreements [on reform].”