Herzog urges progress in judicial overhaul talks: ‘It’s money time’

President Isaac Herzog interrupts ongoing discussions to reach a negotiated judicial reform in order to convey his sense of urgency.

“It’s money time,” the president says, according to his office.

Teams from opposition and coalition parties are again meeting at the President’s Residence to try to work toward agreeing on changes to the judicial system, a subject that has become Israel’s biggest source of political and social division in past months.

Yesterday, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, one of the coalition’s judicial overhaul champions said that the government may soon unilaterally advance changes, without specifying further. He is also said to be demanding the passing one of his core changes over the next two months of the Knesset’s summer session.

The judicial shakeup is expected to return to the political fore once the state budget passes at the end of May.

Although paused by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March in order to calm criticism and to give politicians space to reach agreements, no tangible progress has been reported to date.

On Monday, opposition party chiefs Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz both said they want to continue with negotiations, but demanded that progress be made soon.