Israel ‘on the brink of civil war’: Gantz tries to convince Levin to abandon controversial judicial appointments bill

National Unity chair Benny Gantz met earlier today with Justice Minister Yariv Levin in a last-ditch attempt to convince him to abandon a highly controversial piece of legislation that will greatly increase political control over the judicial appointments process.

The meeting was held ahead of the final two readings in the Knesset plenum needed for the legislation’s passage.

During the meeting, Gantz told Levin that he would be making a “mistake” by bringing the legislation for final votes, Channel 12 reports, while Ynet says he warned Levin that Israel is on “the brink of a civil war.”

In response, Levin told Gantz that the legislation was “intended to heal the rift in the nation,” as it had been introduced to the Knesset by Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar as an ostensible compromise over previously proposed legislation that would have given the coalition almost complete control over all judicial appointments.

Reports add that, ahead of his meeting with Levin, Gantz also wrote to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking him to stop the legislation from progressing any further.

“I’m appealing to you as someone who bears the responsibility of acting on behalf of all citizens of this country,” Gantz wrote to Netanyahu, according to quotes published by Channel 12.

“Our society is wounded and bleeding, divided in a way we have not seen since October 6 [2023]. Fifty-nine of our brothers and sisters are still captive in Gaza, and our soldiers, from all political factions, are fighting on multiple fronts.”

Gantz’s letter continues, warning Netanyahu that returning to the controversial judicial overhaul legislation that divided the national consensus for much of 2023 would be an abandonment of the people.

“The way you are operating, whereby the parliamentary majority will unilaterally approve legislation opposed by the people, will harm the ability to create broad reform that appeals to the whole, will lead to polarization and will increase distrust in both the legislative and executive branches,” Gantz writes.