The Knesset's Constitution Committee, chaired by Simcha Rotman, will begin a series of discussions today (Monday) promoting the legal reform promoted by Justice Minister Yariv Levin. The first topic that was proposed is a discussion of the status of the Attorney General.
The text of the proposed law deals with the amendment of the Basic Law: The Government, which will establish that the opinion of the Ombudsman as well as the legal advisors will only be advisory and not binding. The position of the Attorney General, as of today, is not anchored in the law but only in the case law.
Rothman explained that Israel's legal advisor is a "global exception", and that no other country in the world is completely subject to his position and it is impossible to do otherwise without his permission.
Rothman.
There will be no lightning procedure, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
On the other hand, the opponents of the amendment to the law claim that it is impossible for legal advisors to serve as advisors only, and that those with influence in the government will be able to do whatever they want without considering the existing legal situation in the country.
Referendum?
Rothman and Levin emphasized that they do not intend to conduct a lightning procedure, and that their goal is to hear all the different opinions and hold a long series of discussions on the issues on the agenda in the Constitution Committee.
Among other things, various experts will be invited to the discussions in the committee, including the legal adviser to the government Gali Bahar-Miara, the heads of the judiciary (current and retired), ministers of justice and legal advisers who served in the position and other experts who have something to add in the areas that will be discussed.
In Rabbi Miara, will you come to the committee?, Photo: Gideon Markowitz
In the meantime, the opposition is trying to ride the great protest wave that arose in the streets of Tel Aviv in a demonstration last Saturday night.
The head of the opposition, Yesh Atid faction chairman Yair Lapid, called for a referendum on the reform. According to his proposal, the citizens of the country will decide between two proposals - the one Levin intends to implement or another plan he will present - and thereby decide whether they "want or don't want to live in democracy".
An alarming confrontation
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to him at the cabinet meeting and said: "In recent days, I have heard an attempt to claim that the public did not know what they were voting for.
We will make the necessary corrections in the legal system out of discretion and responsibility.
Millions of citizens who voted for the right-wing camp knew about the intention to comprehensively reform the judicial system.
More than that, they demanded it from us."
Prime Minister Netanyahu, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
In the background of these words, as first published in Israel Hayom, President Yitzhak Herzog has been trying in recent days to bring Yariv Levin, Simcha Rothman and the coalition representatives to the negotiating table with President Hayut and representatives of the judiciary, in order to try to reach a broad agreement regarding the legal revolution.
Yesterday, President Herzog addressed the acute crisis and said: "We are in the midst of a deep dispute that is tearing the nation apart.
This confrontation worries me a lot, and worries a large public in Israel and the Diaspora.
The foundations of Israeli democracy, including the judicial system, are sacred, and we must guard them at all costs, even when there are debates and discussions of principle on the relations between the authorities."
The president also said that he "appreciates all the debaters, the involved, the protestors and the demonstrators, and the public's involvement in this important debate. I respect the criticism towards me, but I am currently focusing on two critical roles that I believe are assigned to me as the president of the country at this time: to prevent a historic constitutional crisis and to stop the continuation of the division in the nation."
"The President's House," Herzog added, "is perhaps the only place today that has the trust of all parties and is able to conduct litigation on the issue in a manner that is acceptable to all - both with open doors and behind closed doors."
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
