Protesters to target judicial overhaul talks at President’s Residence

Announcing their plans for a Friday protest outside of the President’s Residence, representatives for the protest movement against the coalition’s judicial upheaval “strongly denounce” reports of an emerging compromise and slam opposition leaders for “failing to uphold the principles and values for which we have tirelessly fought.”

“If the reports are indeed true, this so-called compromise agreement amounts to nothing more than a surrender that compromises the very essence of Israeli democracy in exchange for empty promises from [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu. This is an unacceptable betrayal of the trust and aspirations of the millions who have actively voiced their concerns,” a statement from the movement reads.

“The proposed agreement reflects Netanyahu’s calculated strategy of eroding the judicial review process and undermining the role of the attorney general, thereby jeopardizing the foundations of our democracy. It is alarming that Netanyahu’s own coalition partners have openly labeled him a liar, and yet, Opposition Leader [Yair] Lapid and MK [Benny] Gantz seem willing to trust him,” the statement continues.

Hebrew media reports that coalition and opposition negotiators are inching closer to signing understandings about principles undergirding their continued talks, as well as coming to agreements on curtailing judicial review over the “reasonableness” of government decisions and enabling ministers to choose their own legal representatives in court.

Opposition sources continue to deny a looming agreement, saying instead that they would not sign on to any deal that does not provide guarantees for ending the rest of the coalition’s plan to weaken judicial checks on political power.