Gantz: Willing to agree to judicial reform deal if our principles are upheld

National Unity leader Benny Gantz says that his party will put aside politics to reach an agreement on how to reform the judiciary, provided it adheres to five principles the party continues to advocate.

“National Unity will not hesitate to reach agreements if they meet the principles we set. No political consideration will stand between us and what is right for the State of Israel,” he says.

The principles, Gantz adds, are: “that there will be no political control over the appointment of judges and gatekeepers, a comprehensive Basic Law will be promoted and established, effective judicial review will be maintained, there will be an improvement in citizen services, and no less important – agreeing to no second round [of judicial reforms], and certainly not in the current Knesset.”

The former defense minister calls Wednesday’s vote to elect two lawmakers to the committee that selects judges a “decisive moment,” and says giving one seat to the opposition alongside the government is part of the formula to make progress.

“This is not the time to play games, this is not the time for deals and not the time for political exercises,” he says.

Gantz also reiterates his call for Netanyahu to fire National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

“He doesn’t have the ability, he doesn’t have the required trust of the top echelons of the police and Arab society, and I don’t even know if he has a real desire to solve the problem,” Gantz charges. “The responsibility is too great – the situation is too serious.”

Similarly, he dismisses the idea of enlisting the Shin Bet to fight Arab community crime as a “magic solution” that “is misleading the public.”

Rather, he says, “comprehensive, systemic work is needed” to solve the problem.
“The government should take pride in investing in Israel’s Arab citizens. In employment, infrastructure, education, and fighting crime. They deserve it by merit – not by grace,” he adds, asking the government to form a special cabinet to tackle Arab community crime.