Can Lapid, Herzog's panel plan save Israel amid judicial reform crisis? - editorial

• Published date: 25 January 2023

Opposition leader Yair Lapid proposed a plan on Monday that, if accepted by all sides, could help dig the country out of the free-fall it finds itself in regarding the mudslinging taking place surrounding the reforms

"I proposed to President [Isaac] Herzog that he form a presidential committee to offer a balanced and reasonable recommendation to fix and improve the judicial system and find the proper balance between the legislative and judicial branches," Lapid announced.

"I proposed to President [Isaac] Herzog that he form a presidential committee to offer a balanced and reasonable recommendation to fix and improve the judicial system and find the proper balance between the legislative and judicial branches."

Yair Lapid

Instead of the "wild galloping" of the current government, such a committee would be able to hear all sides, including the courts, the government, the opposition and academics, and carry out an orderly process that will come up with a better proposal than the current one, Lapid said.

At the same time, Herzog himself unveiled an ambitious multi-year plan to heal the rifts in the nation that have been further exacerbated by the judicial reform battle. He announced the initiative on Tuesday at an education conference attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ministers, MKs, mayors and teachers.

In tandem with this initiative, Herzog intends to establish an education center at the President's Residence that will foster a sense of belonging among the various communities of Israel, and will assist different ones to meet and learn about each other.

Coalition, opposition turn down Lapid's proposal

The coalition doused lukewarm water on Lapid's proposal, saying that while all dialogue is good, an apolitical committee cannot replace the Knesset in deciding on the scope of the judicial reform. Netanyahu had previously rejected a proposal by Blue and White leader Benny Gantz for the establishment of coalition/opposition working teams "that will put a proper and broad reform before the Knesset, including additional layers on top of the existing ones."

Lapid also received the thumbs down from some fellow opposition members, with Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman tweeting: "Wake up! You cannot arrive at any compromise regarding judicial reform. You say that the government wants to bring us to a 100% dictatorship, so what compromise do you want – 50% dictatorship?!"

Labor leader Merav Michaeli also slammed the plan, saying...