In an era where social media extremists are the pillars in front of the camps, the President's institution in general and Yitzhak Herzog in particular, are probably the last party still able to speak to both sides and gain their trust.
The president gave a very important speech today (Sunday).
First and foremost because he had real attention to both sides.
Herzog's personal baggage is such that he speaks the languages of both camps.
It is of course known that Herzog grew up on the political left and was the chairman of the Labor Party. Less well known is his deep connection to the Israeli tradition, to prayers and laws. He quotes the verses of the Bible without mistakes because he does not write speeches and insert them into the text.
He is living the legacy of his great grandfather, the chief rabbi after whom he is named.
From this place, of those who do not shut themselves in the president's house, but talk almost non-stop with everyone possible for weeks, in order to prevent a rift in the nation - the speech was born yesterday.
President Herzog: "We are just before an explosion" // Photo: Leam
It was obvious that Herzog was speaking from his heart.
His anxiety is real and justified.
He envisions locomotives racing in each direction, and alone stands in the middle as an absorbent pad that will not be able to contain the force of the explosion.
Under these circumstances, the five principles presented by the president are not the main thing in his speech.
If negotiations are opened, they will change along the way anyway, as is the way of the world.
What was more important in this dramatic moment were the practical calls he made.
One, to speak;
the second, to compromise;
The third, to give up.
Let's start with the last one addressed to Levin and Rothman.
Herzog called on them to withdraw from a small principle to which they were clinging, which is first of all the approval of the reform in the first reading.
For them, withdrawing from this position is a small concession, since they are ready for the other two demands anyway.
The Minister of Justice and the Chairman of the Constitutional Committee planned after the first reading, both to talk with the opposition and to compromise on some of the components of the reform. So, in substance and image, it is worth waiting a week or two for them. They can only profit from this generosity of the winners. Or to put it simply, the pill they have to swallow is small and tasty .
On the other hand, it is the judicial system that has been refusing to restrain itself for decades and is also thwarting any attempt at reform.
She is the one who has not been willing until now to neither speak nor compromise.
Here Herzog came and made it clear to the living and her friends that the age of refusal is over and that the discourse will open up.
Also, according to the president's method, the reason for reasonableness will be reduced and the judges' control over their substitutes will disappear from the world.
That is, the heirs of Aharon Barak will be forced to return the court to its original function.
High Court of Justice. The era of refusal is over, photo: Reuters
For the opponents of legal activism, which Levin and Rothman represent today, this is a huge historical achievement.
For those who insist on keeping the existing, this frog is big and bitter.
It is to be hoped that the reluctant jurists will understand the heavy historical responsibility assigned to them in this moment of national danger, and will begin to speak.
Because if God forbid they don't do it, the government will have full justification to pass the reform unilaterally, for all the consequences that arise from it.
Whereas a third house, as we learned, will be built with free love.
This is the moment to express it.
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