In joint statement, Yesh Atid, National Unity say overhaul talks are ‘only possibility’ for solution

Following another day of judicial reform compromise talks at the President’s Residence, opposition parties Yesh Atid and National Unity say that the yet-to-be-fruitful discussions are the “only possibility” for finding a solution to Israel’s largest political crisis, but said their continued participation is conditioned on ending attempts to change Israel’s system of governance.

In a joint statement, the two parties say that ongoing talks are “the only possibility for finding a common solution,” but stress that “we made it clear that continuing with talks is conditional upon the possibility of making progress.”

The parties also condition talks on “commitment to the process inside and outside the room, and on stopping the sword of the judicial coup with a clear commitment, that there is no legislation that leads to a change of the regime in Israel.”

“We are attentive to calls and know that the majority of the public prefers talking to leaving the room,” the two opposition parties add, in response to sustained pressure from other opposition parties and protest organizations to quit the discussions.

Left-wing critics of the negotiations say that they provide cover for the coalition to continue pursuing legislation in the meantime, while right-wing critics say they are unnecessary because the coalition should unilaterally wield its legislative weight.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was recorded telling his Likud party to not believe reports that their plan to curtail judicial power would be shelved, telling the party that the plan was “not dead.”