Talk grows of potential compromise, as Lapid backs Herzog proposal in principle

There are growing indications of a potential last-minute compromise agreement between the coalition and the opposition regarding the “reasonableness” bill and the broader judicial overhaul plan, with opposition leader Yair Lapid appearing to throw his support behind a proposal made by President Isaac Herzog.

Herzog has met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lapid, and will meet the National Unity party chief this evening, as he makes a last push to put the brake on an escalating standoff that has caused hundreds of thousands to protest for several days and left more than 10,000 reservists prepared to halt their volunteer duty.

According to the Ynet news site, most details about Herzog’s proposal have generally been accepted, but the sticking point is how far down the road the rest of the overhaul bills would be pushed. Netanyahu’s Likud is willing to wait no more than three months, while Lapid is demanding at least 15 months.

After meeting Herzog, Lapid tweets that “the principles presented to me by the president match the principles I have in mind: safeguarding the gatekeepers, stopping the rupture in society, and a reasonableness doctrine that doesn’t harm our democracy.”

He says that he will do whatever he can to bring about a broadly agreed solution.

However, according to Channel 12 news, Gantz is opposed to Herzog’s proposal, not content with pushing the most sticky subjects down the road and favoring a comprehensive solution. Moreover, protest organizers are vehemently opposed to reaching a compromise with the government.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin has said this evening in a speech to a Tel Aviv pro-overhaul rally that “our hand is stretched out for understandings, and understandings mean a willingness by the opposition to make concessions as well.”