Supreme Court chief fires back at politicians’ ‘personal attacks on justices’

Supreme Court President Esther Hayut says in a missive to Israel’s judges that ongoing attacks on the justice system by politicians “should disturb all those who care about the independence of the judicial system.”

Hayut writes that for a while now, “we have been witnessing bold attacks on judges in response to their rulings. These are personal attacks on the justices and have nothing to do with legitimate, professional criticism.”

Chief Justice Esther Hayut, at the Supreme Court on May 11, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Yesterday Likud MK David Amsalem, known for his brash style, attacked Supreme Court justice David Mintz for a ruling he issued on a petition Amsalem filed, suggesting he was drunk when he wrote it.

Amsalem, who had filed a peition against Defense Minister Benny Gantz over an appointment, called Mintz “deranged” and “mediocre” and called on him to resign.

Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and many of his allies in Likud have been attacking the justice system for years as the ex-premier stands trial for alleged graft.