Rothman: ‘The will of the public’ justifies not convening judicial selection panel

At a conference of the Israel Bar Association, MK Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, says Justice Minister Yariv Levin is justified in refusing to convene the nation’s Judicial Selection Committee.

“What justifies delaying convening the committee is a term we’ve nearly forgotten — the will of the public,” Rothman says as some members of the audience boo and shout him down. “The Knesset… voted in a first reading by a large majority that it wants to change the appointment method [to the panel].

“Do we need a new appointment method? Yes. What is the specific method? One that is different from the current one, and more balanced. Even the basic will of the Knesset to reach a more agreed-upon model is not being respected.”