Netanyahu rejects President's judicial reform compromise

• Published date: 16 March 2023
• Publication title: Globes (Rishon LeZion, Israel)

According to President Herzog's plan, the coalition government would not have a majority on the committee selecting Supreme Court judges. The committee would have 11 members including three ministers, three Supreme Court judges including the president, 3 opposition MKs, 1 coalition MK and two lawyers appointed with the agreement of the Minister of Justice and President

Also according to the President's outline, the Supreme Court will not be able to annul basic laws, but there are rules on how to enact basic laws so that it will be difficult to enact them. For the first time, human dignity and freedom will be enshrined in the Basic Law, the right to equality and the prohibition against discrimination, the right to freedom of expression and demonstration. Reasonableness will not apply to matters of policy and appointments of ministers will not be disqualified because of reasonableness. Reasonableness will continue to apply to the rest of the state authorities and the opinion of the Attorney General will bind the government, but an opinion on the legality of bills will not. Legal advisors will not be in positions of trust.

According to the President's outline proposal Basic Laws will require three readings and a simple majority of 61 but a majority of 70 or 80 on the fourth reading, depending on how long has passed from the third...