Levin willing to talk about numbers needed for court override

Justice Minister Yariv Levin says he is open to discussing the number of MKs needed to overturn a High Court decision in his proposed override bill, but not the principles of the bill, the Haaretz newspaper reports.

Levin, speaking on the “My Israel” podcast yesterday, says he is willing to discuss “nuances.”

His judicial overhaul includes proposed legislation that would allow any 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset to overrule decisions by the country’s top court, a demand critics warn could upend Israel’s democratic system of balance between the parliament, the executive and the judiciary.

Some opponents of the law, like National Unity chief Benny Gantz, have said they would support a clause that lets 80 MKs overturn a ruling.

“One can argue about this or that majority on overriding a law, but the basic principles cannot and will not be compromised because they are necessary and required,” Levin says.

Levin does not specify what numbers he would accept.