Smotrich says judicial overhaul should wait until after war, calls for compromise between Levin and Supreme Court chief

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich calls on Justice Minister Yariv Levin and interim Supreme Court President Isaac Amit to broker a compromise for choosing the High Court of Justice’s next chief justice, arguing that the Levin’s proposed overhaul of the nation’s judiciary ought to remain on hold until after the war.

Amit has been acting in a “bullying” manner to “impose his position” on the citizens of Israel and the majority of elected officials, Smotrich tells reporters ahead of his Religious Zionism party’s weekly faction meeting in the Knesset.

But while the “government believes in the need to lead a fundamental reform of the judicial system, we have decided, because of the war, to put these issues aside, because in times of war we all need to shoulder the burden together,” he says.

Smotrich calls on Amit and Levin “not to give up, to continue and take advantage of every moment to reach an understanding and compromise that will, God forbid, prevent conflict and further a rift in the public.”

“After the war, the time will come when we can advance the reform according to the mandate we received from the public, but the right thing to do now is to reach an agreed compromise and prevent the rift and the scenes we saw before October 7th,” Smotrich insists.

Levin has refused to convene the Judicial Selection Committee and have it confirm Justice Isaac Amit as Supreme Court president. Levin, who views Amit as too liberal, has attempted to hold off on the appointment for a year in hopes of installing committee members more in line with the government’s agenda.

In August, Levin proposed delaying Amit’s ascension to the post, with Justice Yosef Elron serving as the court’s top judge for a year. Amit rejected the compromise.