New details about Herzog's attempt to reach a compromise on the legal reform:
"Israel Hayom" has learned that as part of the efforts, the President is expected to hold a series of talks with senior officials in the government, the Knesset and the judiciary in the coming week as well.
Among other things, Herzog is expected to summon Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who is leading the reform, and Supreme Court President Esther Hayut, who rejects all reform proposals - to a three-way meeting at the President's residence.
Yesterday it was published for the first time in "Israel Hayom" that President Yitzhak Herzog is holding secret talks with senior officials in the government, the Knesset and the judiciary, with the aim of opening a communication channel between the heads of the three branches of government.
The hope of the president that within the framework of the dialogue, agreements will be reached on the nature of the reform in the relations between the authorities.
President Yitzhak Herzog and Supreme Court President Esther Hayut, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
These meetings will join the intensive talks that Herzog had throughout the week with many in the political system, including Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Officials privy to the details refused to respond to the publication and specify the nature of the settlement Herzog is pursuing.
However, from the information that reached Israel Hayom, it appears that Herzog went into the issues themselves and the outline that he formulates is broad and deep, and includes the readjustment of the relations between the three authorities.
Another leg of the move is expected to be a significant increase in the number of judges - a flagship issue for the President of the Supreme Court, Esther Hayut, as she pointed out in her harsh speech on Thursday.
From the conversations that Herzog has had so far, it appears that on the government's side, including Levin's, there is a willingness to introduce corrections and changes in the reform proposal.
Levin himself said on the eve of the launch of the reform that he is open to hearing ideas and proposals from all sides.
The chairman of the Knesset's Constitution Committee, Simcha Rotman, also clarified that in the committee's deliberations, all opinions will be given an opening and she is ready to introduce amendments to the original version of the proposals he published.
Prime Minister Netanyahu. Talked with Herzog about the legal reform, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
On the other hand, from the talks that took place with the President of the Supreme Court, Esther Hayut, it appears that she is willing to talk but not to compromise on some kind of change in the existing legal system.
It should be noted that in her speech on Thursday, Hayut also avoided expressing a willingness to talk with the government about the proposed reform, but claimed that the only problem in the judicial system is the limited number of judges.
Despite the huge differences, Herzog "works 20 hours a day", according to one of the sources, to bring about dialogue between the hawks.
The president is worried about the sharp conflict between the senior government officials, the opposition and the judiciary, as well as its spread to the general public, and the possibility that it will spill over into street violence.
At the President's House, they believe that extreme statements by public figures on all sides of the political spectrum are stirring up the atmosphere and increasing the fear that the confrontation will also turn physical.
To the President's feeling, the tension and hostility in the public, and the unwillingness of the parties to listen to each other, are reminiscent of the days before the assassination of Prime Minister Rabin in 1995.
Minister of the Interior and Health Arie Deri.
will join efforts to reach a compromise if his appointment is qualified by the High Court of Justice, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
One of the tests on the way to a compromise is the ruling that the High Court will give this week on the petitions against the appointment of MK Aryeh Deri as a minister in the government.
If the appointment is qualified and the High Court refrains from using the reason of reasonableness to invalidate a basic law, it is estimated that Deri himself will join the efforts to reach a compromise between the authorities. Another question, which at this stage does not have a clear answer, is whether the outline will have to include the settlement of Prime Minister Netanyahu's legal affairs. Perspective , Netanyahu does not share Levin's opinion that such a far-reaching reform of relations between the branches is required. According to sources in the political system, there is even some tension between the two on this background.
However, Netanyahu at this stage is allowing the Minister of Justice and the other players in the coalition to promote the reform, and it is not clear whether he is doing so because of his political dependence on them, or so that the compromise outline will include a plea deal or another solution to the Netanyahu trial.
It should be noted that the president himself said this week that "in recent days I have been working and holding talks with many parties and doing everything in order to bring about the existence of a dignified and respectful dialogue, hoping to reach as broad an understanding as possible. The values of the Declaration of Independence are the compass of our country and I will not allow them to be harmed."
Herzog also addressed the public leaders and said "Show restraint and responsibility. We must calm the spirits and lower the flames. We have no other country."
At the President's House, they confirmed to "Israel Hayom" that Herzog is making every effort to maintain dialogue between the parties.
The administration of the courts did not respond to "Israel Hayom"'s question.
Justice Minister Levin's office said that if the president calls him to a meeting, he will answer in the affirmative.
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