Levin says right will seek dialogue on judicial reform, but not ‘paralysis’

At the meeting with Herzog, Levin and the president spoke of the right’s stated intention to reform the country’s judicial system, update security protocols and roll back religious reforms.

When asked by Herzog if Likud planned to employ “dialogue” with existing authorities to advance changes, Levin said that communication should not be a euphemism for stalling.

“Dialogue isn’t a whitewashed word for paralysis,” Levin says, adding that Likud is “of course in favor of a dialogue.”

Levin has pushed for reforms that would transfer power from the courts to politicians, in particular creating a legislative override when the Supreme Court  invalidates laws as unconstitutional and giving politicians greater control over the appointment of judges.

Echoing Likud MK Miri Regev, who was also present in the meeting and pushed for “sovereignty of the public” — via its representatives in the Knesset — over the rule of the courts, Levin said that the Knesset is not the party shutting down dialogue with the country’s public authorities.

“Unfortunately in the past years, this dialogue was missing — and not on part of the legislative authority,” he said.