One of the biggest losers from the appointment of Miki Zohar to the position of Minister of Culture is precisely his son Eliav, the winner of the recent "Next Star".
"Eliav will lose from this because he will not win any participation in anything related to the state," says Minister Zohar in an interview with Walla!
culture.
"It won't happen. And he knows it. It sucks, but what can be done? This is the price he will pay. He will not make any content and will not participate in any activity funded by the state."
He really won't appear at any state event?
"In no event, in nothing. I told him he would not do that, and I would not allow such a thing either. He said he understood it. He also made it clear to his agents that he would not participate in any ceremony or any event related to the state."
That's a lot of money he could have made.
"It is possible that he will lose from this. It is not so sad because he may not need it so much. All his concerts are sold out, and many people invite him to concerts."
In any case, says Zohar, the new star nevertheless welcomed the appointment.
"He saw me before his eyes as someone who raises him, nurtures him, believes in him and helps him all the way, as someone who can really help the world of culture and art, help that he himself could not find in moments of crisis. He told me that he had a very difficult time as a beginning artist, and I also saw This," says the minister.
"My son had parents who could help him with resources to enter the world of culture and art, we helped him produce his first album, which is a lot of money, and all kinds of music videos, at first it is very difficult. Before he came to the program, it was not an easy year. I experienced and saw how an artist In his infancy, he has to go through a lot of difficulties until he manages to get to the point where he really manages to become well-known and loved and sell the tickets. In addition to that, due to Eliav's love for the world of culture, he thinks that his father will know how to do a good job. I hope he is right."
Culture Minister Miki Zohar (Photo: Reuven Castro)
With the inauguration of the government, Zohar entered the Ministry of Culture and Sports in the place of MK Hili Trooper. In the first in-depth interview in the field of culture, which took place this week in his office in Jerusalem, Zohar reveals what his plans are, promises that he will not withhold government support for artistic nudity, declares that he is in favor of closing the news department of the corporation but Against the closure of the broadcasting body, expresses his love for minister Itamar Ben Gvir - and also sends a sting towards his Likud colleague Miri Regev, one of his predecessors in the position, in the background of one of the many storms that accompanied her tenure in the ministry.
What reception did you receive in your first days in office?
"Excellent. To the credit of the outgoing minister Hili Troper, who really cooperated and gave me a good, professional and business-like overview. The outgoing CEO, Raz Froelich, too, to his credit, a talented professional who passed on all the information to us.
It must be said that this is quite positive news in all these changes of government, that there is a very respectable and non-confrontational transition between the elected officials.
I truly believe that if there are rivalries or political disagreements, it doesn't have to be personal.
It can be left in the framework of disagreements and arguments.
It is clear that I will come to the office with my own agendas, policies and values and I will implement them.
Some of my army's good ideas will stick, some may not, it depends on whether it aligns with my agendas and policies.
I might bring new things.
It will in no way be arbitrary or insistent.
It will be discussed in the most serious and matter-of-fact way whether it is good or not good for all the citizens of Israel."
Already on the day when Miri Regev was sworn in as Minister of Culture, the actor and comedian Gavri Banai called her "Wala!
A culture that is a "beast", which was the opening shot for the wars between Regev and the artists, and vice versa.
Were you worried that artists who are identified with the left would also severely criticize you in the first days?
Were you surprised it didn't happen?
"I wasn't afraid and I wasn't surprised. I'll explain why. I wasn't surprised because people know what I've been leading for the past two years - a change in discourse, which will be a much more respectful, much more appropriate and much more matter-of-fact discourse. Even if there's an argument - that's fine. It's allowed to argue and it's allowed to disagree. But there is a way to debate. I'm proud to have led it for two years, and I'm happy that this thing is also being implemented. If you notice, even here in the right-wing camp, you can see that the discourse is changing. Unfortunately, there are still arguments of this and that, and there are still such sparks, but there is no doubt that we see With us, the discourse is changing. This does not mean anything about our policy and our desire to govern. It is something that can be done, as I have always said - to govern with a smile. You don't have to govern with anger. You can also govern with a smile."
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" Regev but did not make a major reform: a summary of Hili Trooper's tenure as Minister of Culture
"Govern with a smile".
Zohar (Photo: Reuven Castro)
"Why wasn't I afraid? Because even if there was someone like this or someone like that, who chose to attack me personally, I wouldn't react and I wouldn't reply. I would simply ignore and continue doing what I believe in, and I wouldn't fall into these arguments," he adds.
"I want to say that in the coming term it will be very difficult to drag me into public confrontations with artists or influential parties. This is not something I want to do. I state my positions in the clearest and most uncompromising way, as I said that I do not intend to finance content that will harm the good name of the State of Israel, And I will stand by it. And even if there is someone who doesn't like it, and decides, instead of having a cultural conversation with me about this matter, to attack me personally, he will not get an answer. I will not enter this swamp and I will not have a mud fight."
Do the artists have reason to fear your ministry, your fight against them, any persecution and attempted censorship?
"No. I'm a very liberal person. Unlike others, I know how an artist's soul works. In my house, an artist grew up not bad, I must say objectively. I hear how he writes and composes his songs, and how the emotion he experiences as an artist comes to me Expression in his songs, I know how he behaves in his everyday life, what hurts him more, what is more important to him, how his view of the world is expressed, which is completely different from the political world. We see things in a more pragmatic, professional, correct and less emotional way. And suddenly you see a child, who grew up in your house, who is all emotion. That everything is one heart. There is nothing else at all apart from that. Then you realize that if you are going to talk to an artist you have to do it in a different way than how you do it with a politician. When I I will have to explain my decision to other artists, I will have to do it in a different way than how I explain it to my political colleague. Because an artist has a different outlook on life. These are facts that have not changed. Therefore,In this regard, I think that the world of culture and art actually received a person who knows what it is, knows it and will also be able to work with me in a much more positive way."
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Minister of Culture Miki Zohar in an interview with Walla!
Culture (Photo: Reuven Castro)
The meeting with Minister Zohar in his office in Jerusalem took place on Monday, the day before he "ordered his office staff to immediately examine the sources of funding", according to the wording of the announcement published by his office, for the documentary film "Two Children in a Day" by director David Waxman, which documents the detention of minors in the territories and was shown that day at the Herzliya Cinematheque , and called on the Minister of Finance to retroactively negate his budget.
According to Zohar, the film "presents IDF soldiers as harming children, while terrorists are presented as innocent victims", adding that "it is impossible for a film fund to use taxpayers' money to spread lies against IDF soldiers and the state".
After the storm broke out, in response to the question Walla!
Tarbut, has he seen the film in question, the minister replied: "I saw the promo and received a very comprehensive review of it from professional sources."
His words drew widespread criticism in the world of culture, and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel even sent a letter to the legal advisor to the government, asking her to "
"The freedom of expression of artists, wherever they are, should be very much my priority. There is only one thing that needs to be clear - what the state funds and what it doesn't," clarifies Minister Zohar.
"The state can afford to make a decision that there are things that it does not finance. If I see content that harms the good name of Israel and the soldiers of the IDF, I feel that if I finance this content it is something that at the end of the day does not contribute to the state but harms it, the culture in Israel and the artist himself.
Let's say the state finances a film that calls IDF soldiers murderers. I'm telling you that if the state hadn't funded the film, it wouldn't have come up for discussion and there wouldn't have been a discussion about it. From the moment the state gives money for it - as if some kind of impression is created that the state is behind the work. I finance it, I seem to agree to a work that is against our basic values and the state's symbols, and the IDF is one of the state's symbols.
This is something that I think should be avoided."
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The previous ombudsman and his successors made it clear to the former Minister of Culture Miri Regev that she has no authority to interfere with the content of works that are uploaded in cultural institutions or to threaten to cut the support budgets because of the content of the works. How will you react to such opinions? Do you intend to open a front with the legal adviser to the government or support In her dismissal to bring about a change in the opinions that protect the freedom of artistic expression?
He who received money from the ministry - funds and councils - will be held responsible.
In accordance with the law that already exists today in the Rabinovitch Foundation, there is this section, which the foundation has to verify, audit and demand from the recipient of the funding not to use the budget it receives to damage the good name of Israel, in accordance with the law.
There is also the Nakba law, which is also a source of authority, which may also need to be amended.
In the end it will be done in the space of legislative change.
In this world, I have extensive knowledge because I was both a member of the Knesset and the chairman of a coalition, so I know how the Israeli parliament works and what needs to be done in terms of legislation to lock in legal buyers."
If there is a film that deals with the Nakba, from one angle or another, do you censor it?
"It's all a question of angle. Professionals will sit down and decide. To determine now what content will be declared as damaging to the good name of Israel seems to me not serious. It should be remembered that the State of Israel, alongside the great things it brings to the world - abilities, innovation, achievements - is also a very persecuted country by many countries in the world. When we defame the name of the country, we give fuel to all the anti-Semitic organizations that seek to impose as many boycotts on Israel as possible. When you bring about a situation where the country finances content that harms its name, you are actually giving, as a country, justification for the claims against you. This means that tomorrow In the morning, the BDS organizations will say: 'They funded the content! So how can you say that our claims are not justified?'. This is the great absurdity that we need to prevent."
"A good and relevant overlap".
Zohar and Trooper (Photo: Flash 90, Yonatan Zindel)
You say again and again that you will not support works that damage the good name of the State of Israel.
A film like "Get", which depicts a woman who is abused by the rabbinical establishment and cannot get a divorce, do you think it harms Israel's good name?
Would you agree to support this film?
"This is not an injury to Israel's name. It is clear that in an interview with you I will not be able to analyze and articulate what harms Israel's good name. This will be done professionally by a committee that I will set up, which will conduct an in-depth discussion on the question of what this sensitive range is, what does harm Israel's good name and what No. It is very difficult now to assess the issues, but there are things that we know harm the country, such as presenting IDF soldiers as murderers, presenting martyrs as freedom fighters, this harms the very soul of the State of Israel, its right to exist.
"Occupation, non-occupation - I think not. Someone can make claims of occupation, that's fine, but the question is how he makes the claims of occupation. Does he claim, and rightly so, that this is our country or from a place that claims that the soldiers are killing Palestinian children. These are very big questions , to which a professional, serious and in-depth response is given, while having a meaningful dialogue and not as an afterthought."
"When the rain falls - it falls on everyone"
At the celebration of the fiftieth state, the jubilee bells, the ultra-Orthodox protested against Bat Sheva's performance and demanded that they appear fully clothed instead of tank tops and shorts in the dance "Who knows" from the piece "Anaphase", which led to Shabbat Sheva not going on stage.
In the current government, which has a large majority of ultra-Orthodox, religious and traditionalists and against the background of great fears of religious coercion, will you support the initiative to prevent subsidies from works that include artistic nudity?
"For the avoidance of doubt, I belong to the Likud party. It is a liberal national party. We have political right-wing positions, that's clear, economic right in many cases, but very, very liberal. Therefore, whoever thinks that we will now become ultra-Orthodox ourselves is wrong. We have a policy liberal and it will be implemented. We do not want to change the freedom and democracy that exists in Israel, there is no such goal. Likud voters and its supporters are liberal people, who want their freedom. But we certainly connect with, love and cherish the tradition of Israel. There is a huge difference between love and appreciation for tradition Israel and liberal affairs. I mean, whoever thinks that tomorrow morning we will restrict artists in their freedom to express their liberal affairs, whether it is in the LGBT communities, or whether it is on the subject of artistic nudity - is wrong.
We have no such interest and no one will get into these issues."
"I would love to watch Chekhov."
Miri Regev (Photo: Reuven Castro)
However, he does highlight another matter that is in his sights.
"I will focus on ensuring that there is no harm to women, on women's inferiority, on turning women into sexual objects, these are things that the ministry will not finance, such issues that may, God forbid, lead to sexual harm. The ministry will be very careful about them," he says.
So, an ethical question: last year, the police investigation file against Eil Golan in the case of minors was reopened.
Do you think it is appropriate that Eyal Golan is a cultural hero?
"As long as there are issues that are under investigation - you have to wait for a clear decision by the authorities. I don't believe in convicting a person before the court has convicted him. This is serious in my eyes. I am careful about this matter, and we see very well how many people can pay a price for doing no injustice. I will say You have something not in the context of Eyal Golan, but in another context related to sexual abuse. I want to be clear: in my eyes, sexual exploitation is no less serious than rape. A person who uses his status and his stardom to be with someone very young, who does not yet know anything about her life , in my eyes it is no less serious than rape, and in my view he should pay the maximum price. And I do not attribute it, God forbid, to any of the names you mentioned, neither to Eyal Golan nor to any of those who are suspicious of them."
You also don't mean Omer Azili and Dor Micah?
"I'm not talking about names, I'm just saying how I see things in principle, as someone who has a young girl at home. We have authorities, they will check and check. In the end, the result obtained there is the one that will decide. As long as there is a procedure of checking and investigation - there is no What to do with it. I'm certainly not the Minister of Culture and Sports. But I will say my value statement. But not in relation to a specific person because the issue is still under investigation."
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"Will not appear at any state event."
Eliav Zohar (photo: screenshot, Keshet 12)
During the time when Miri Regev was Minister of Culture, the "Eastern Crown Festival" was held, in which the Ministry of Culture invested an extraordinary amount of NIS 1.6 million in funding, as revealed in Haaretz newspaper, of which Eyal Golan received NIS 100,000 for performing only two songs that lasted about seven minutes together.
This provoked a lot of criticism for a great waste of public funds, for engaging in such commercial performances and for inviting Eyal Golan against the backdrop of the minors affair.
Would you even invite Golan?
And if so, would you pay him such sums for two songs?
"I tell you the truth, I didn't even know this thing existed. I don't currently see in the office's work plans anything similar to this. I don't know what will happen in the future. But on the face of it, my office's approach would be not to catalog the office with an artistic agenda One way or another. Neither to an oriental singer nor to the rock and roll that my son sings and plays. In the end, the office will look at all cultural events broadly, not individually for one type of music or another. I was taught a phrase: 'When the rain falls, it falls on everyone'. When I bring more And other resources for the world of culture and art - so everyone will probably benefit from them, both in the world of the oriental singer and in the world of rock and roll and in other worlds. I will give everyone without exception the ability to flourish and prosper and improve the level of the music or art they make."
"In the end, half of the people are always dissatisfied"
Regev said about her time in the Ministry of Culture: "I made revolutions that I think two ministers after me will not be able to fix what I did."
You are the second minister after her.
Will you be able to fix it?
Zohar laughs.
"Good question. If half of my ambitions come true, Israeli sports and culture will change their face. I say this not exaggerating because I have really big plans. The whole event is around the budgetary source for this. One of the things that is important for people to know that we are going to focus on is lifting the national pride. When I was a council member and deputy mayor of Kiryat Gat, I would go to the mayor there and tell him - I need money for the group. He told me: No need, what are we going to do, we have a lot of expenses, we need to improve the face of the city and education. I told him : You have to understand one thing, when a citizen of Kiryat Gat travels around the country, you ask him where he's from and he says Kiryat Gat, the first thing people will say to him is "Wow, this Ninet! Your team is in the Premier League! Eliav Zohar! Just, just, just, I'm kidding But at the end of the municipal pride that was then and will always be for each and every authority in the successes it produces at the national level,
Culture Minister Miki Zohar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Flash 90, Yonatan Zindel)
"The same also applies to Israel as a country. When we bring achievements at the international level, both in the world of sports and in the world of culture, films that win awards, etc., it will raise the level of national pride of the State of Israel and the good name of Israel in the world. This is something that, for me, is a value. Therefore , besides investing in sports and local culture, I will always want to aim for success at the international level, and if we succeed in this - it will contribute a lot to Israel."
You said in the article about Hili Trooper in the last "Friday Studio": "I think Hili was an excellent minister of culture and sports, I think he brought things that were neglected for many, many years by previous ministers in the world of culture and sports."
Which ministers did you mean?
What was neglected in the office?
"What bothers me right now in terms of sports is the big gap between Israel and Europe. Europe is running away from us, in all sports. And it's a gap that needs to be narrowed down quickly, otherwise we won't be relevant in any significant European enterprise soon. This is something that bothers me a lot and it's something I'll try to address In it. These are the main claims I have. By the way, I don't know if it has to do with Limor Livnat, Miri Regev or Hili Trooper. In the cultural sector we have brought quite a few achievements - but not enough. It is important to me that there be more achievements of the cultural world in Israel on a global scale. More Oscars for Israel, more Grammy Awards for Israel, more series to be distributed, more films to be successful, songs to be successful at the international level. Things that will publicize the good name of Israel in the world. My point of view is national, I want the country to bring as many achievements as possible at the international level."
You say you want achievements at the international level.
One of the cultural and media bodies that bring the most achievements at the international level is the Broadcasting Corporation here.
Productions sell tens of millions and are successful at festivals.
But your friend, Minister of Communications Shlomo Karai, wants to close the corporation.
The meaning of this is also harm to thousands of families of cultural and creative people in Israel.
What is your position on this issue?
"My position is that the main problem of the corporation right now is the news channels [on television and radio], where political positions are expressed, and in the end half of the people are always dissatisfied. Because if he expresses positions in favor of the left - then the right-wing half of the people say: What, I finance the body that works against me ? And if he expresses positions in favor of the right - then half of the people from the left will say: What, I'm funding a body that will harm my positions? In the end, the corporation has a lot of good things, very high quality original productions that won't be made on any channel, very educational content that helps a lot of people enjoy everything Mini films. That's why I say that I'm not sure that the right thing is to completely close the corporation. This will probably come up for public discussion as well as in the government and the Knesset. I think that if the corporation focuses on original productions, on educational content, on issues related to a world that is more of a consensus and the entire Israeli audience, then there is It has a possibility and a need to exist. And if it continues to be a situation where the corporation turns itself into a political tool for confrontation - that, in my opinion, is a big disadvantage."
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"The corporation has turned itself into a political tool for confrontation."
Zohar (Photo: Reuven Castro)
For the fact that he will not be in charge of the information center and the torch lighting ceremony, which were part of the Ministry of Culture in the past, he is not sorry and even congratulates.
"I didn't shed a single tear because this issue didn't stay with me," he says.
"The level and amount of involvement in this ceremony in terms of the office's resources, the time needed to be invested in it, it would have been a big disadvantage in my eyes if this matter had been left in front of me, and I would not have been sad at all."
Is this also related to the fear that Sarah Netanyahu will expect you to arrange a lot of close-ups for her?
"No, no, no, it has nothing to do with that," he replies, "the fact that I don't have to deal with it, and that I deal with the important things of promoting sports and culture in Israel - that's much more important to me on a personal level."
"Instead of a waiter, artists should deal with their art"
You said that you would establish a committee to identify talents in culture and sports.
A former senior official at the Ministry of Culture criticized this in a conversation with Walla!
culture.
According to him, it is not the office's role to discover stars, for that there are things like the program "The Next Star" where your son was discovered.
The role of the Ministry of Culture is to support cultural institutions and through them to support artists.
"I'm glad you gave the example of my son. This is exactly the reason why I want to establish the talent committee. Do you know how many talented people were on 'The Next Star'? A lot. Which of them do you remember?"
You are Eliav.
And once a year the same artist who received the same funding and assistance will come, and they will look at what he did this year, what paintings he painted and what songs he wrote and composed.
We as a country will invest in young artists.
And besides, we will increase the fund to help veteran artists."
"נשקיע באמנים צעירים". זוהר(צילום: ראובן קסטרו)
מעולם לא מונה במשרד התרבות סגן שר, עד לממשלה המנופחת הזאת שבה מונה סגן השר החרדי יעקב טסלר מטעם יהדות התורה. יש בכך כמה דברים צורמים - התרבות החרדית היא חלק נישתי קטן יחסית במשרד, למה נציג שלה צריך להיות בתפקיד כה בכיר. ולמה צריך לבזבז על סגן שר סכום שמוערך ב-2.6 מיליון בשנה, להלן יותר מ-10 מיליון בקדנציה מלאה, במקום להעביר את הכסף הזה למוסדות תרבות ולאמנים?
"שאלות כמו למה צריך סגן שר נשאלות על בסיס קבוע, גם בקואליציה הקודמת הן נשאלו. בסוף רוצים לטפל בתרבות חרדית ורוצים מישהו שמתמקד בדבר הזה, אז בחרו בטסלר כסגן השר שלי ואני מקבל את זה בשמחה. כל תקציב לתרבות החרדית יהיה בפיקוח השר, שזה אני. יהיה שיתוף פעולה מלא ביני לבין טסלר. אני מאמין שצריך לטפל גם בתרבות החרדית ולטפח אותה, מכלייזמרים וציורים ועד הצגות שמיועדות לאוכלוסייה החרדית. בהסכם הקואליציוני סיכמנו על תוספת של 50 מיליון שקלים שהאוצר יקצה לטובת תרבות חרדית במשרדי. זאת אומרת שזה לא פוגע בתרבות המשרד אלא מוסיף אליו".
תוכנית "קריאייטיב יורופ" של האיחוד האירופי הייתה יכולה להזרים עשרות מיליונים לתרבות הישראלית. יצירות ופרויקטים תרבותיים ישראליים. התכנית לא אושרה קודם בגלל רגב ואחר כך בגלל וטו של בנט, כי היא לא מאפשרת למוסדות ואמנים מעבר לקווי 67' ליהנות ממנה, ולמרות שמשרד התרבות הוסיף להם מין "מנגנון פיצוי". לא חבל על הכסף הגדול הזה שיוריד לטמיון, במיוחד כשתקציב התרבות כל כך נמוך?
"אני רוצה לתת מענה לנושא 'קריאייטיב יורופ', אני יודע שיש עם זה בעיה מסוימת מבחינת החרם על יהודה ושומרון, אבל אני חושב שעשרות המיליונים יועילו לתרבות בישראל. מקווה שיימצא פתרון מול ההנהגה ביהודה ושומרון, אני הולך לעשות איתם שיח, שהמדינה תפצה אותם מכספה. יכול להיות שנעשה את זה אבל זה כמובן צריך להיות בשיח מול ההנהגה ביהודה ושומרון ולא באופן חד צדדי על ידי השר".
באמת חלמת לשבת עם בן גביר? "התשובה היא כן"
לסיום, כמה שאלות פוליטיות. עם יד על הלב, אתה פיללת לממשלה הזאת? שזה אומר בין השאר לשבת עם אדם כהניסט כמו איתמר בן גביר, שתלה תמונה של רוצח בסלון. חצי עם רואה פה ממשלה שממש מפחידה אותו.
"קודם כל מי שהממשלה הזאת מפחידה אותו - חד משמעית טועה. זו ממשלה טובה, אני גאה להיות חלק ממנה, כי זאת סופסוף ממשלת ימין שחלמנו עליה הרבה מאוד שנים במדינה".
באמת חלמת לשבת עם בן גביר?
"כן. התשובה היא כן, מחנה הימין חלם שתהיה לו ממשלה גם עם בן גביר וגם עם סמוטריץ'. אנחנו אוהבים את בן גביר ואוהבים את סמוטריץ', ואני בטוח שכל הספקולציות שיש לגביהם יופרכו. במרוצת הזמן יגלו שבן גביר הוא בנאדם מאוד אחראי, מאוד ענייני ולא קיצוני כמו שמציגים אותו. ואני חושב שסמוטריץ' יתגלה כאדם מאוד רציני ומקצועי. אגב הוא התגלה כבר במשרד התחבורה. אנשים חשבו שהוא יהיה בעייתי והם גילו שהוא היה שר תחבורה נהדר. ואני חושב שהוא יהיה גם שר אוצר נהדר. לכן אני אומר, חבר'ה, אל תמהרו לקטלג אנשים ולשים להם תוויות, תנו להם את ימי החסד שלהם, תנו להם את היכולת להראות שהם באמת עושים טוב לכל אזרחי ישראל, ואולי אנשים באמת ישנו את דעתם. כבר עכשיו לקבוע מי יהיה מה? בעיני זה לא ראוי ולא מכובד".
"בן גביר אחראי ולא קיצוני". זוהר(צילום: ראובן קסטרו)
על רקע הרפורמה בתחום המשפט, המהפכה ויש אומרים הפיכה ושינוי שיטת הממשל, אלן דרשוביץ, פרופ' למשפטים באוניברסיטת הרווארד ומגדולי התומכים בנתניהו אמר כי "תוכנית הרפורמה המשפטית אמורה לחזק את הדמוקרטיה, אבל היא פוגעת בזכויות האזרח וזכויות המיעוט. אם הייתי יכול - הייתי מצטרף להפגנה בתל אביב".
"זכותו. עמדתו בהחלט נשמעה היטב גם בארץ וגם בעולם. אבל אני יכול לומר כך - אני חושב שבסוף יריב לוין הביא רפורמה מאוד מאוזנת. אנשים שוכחים פרט קטן שהוא אמר, שאם ירצו לפסול חוק, יתכנס הרכב רחב של בית המשפט העליון וברוב מוחלט או פה אחד יוכל לפסול חוקים. זה אומר ששום חקיקה קיצונית לא באמת תקרה כאן, כי שופטי בית המשפט הם אנשים מאוד הגיוניים, הם יודעים לשים לב למהלכים קיצוניים מאוד, ובמקום שיהיה מצב שבו נפסל חוק כל כמה חודשים, יפסל חוק כל כמה שנים".
מעט מאוד חוקים נפסלו בישראל.
"אומרים שנמצאו רק 22 חוקים. אבל אף אחד לא מדבר על מספר החוקים שבית המשפט שלח את הכנסת לתקן. הוא בעצם רמז, על סף האיום, שאם לא נתקן הוא יפסול. אז לבוא ולומר שרק 22 חוקים נפסלו זה לא אובייקטיבי ונכון. האקטיביזם השיפוטי, שהלך וגבר בשנים האחרונות, זה משהו שאנחנו חייבים לעצור".
"האיזון - בחירות כל ארבע שנים". מיקי זוהר(צילום: ראובן קסטרו)
המהפכה המשפטית של לוין, בגיבוי מלא של הנאשם נתניהו, תגרום לכך שהממשלה תשלוט גם בכנסת וגם בבתי המשפט. ונראה שלא יישארו שום איזונים ובלמים שחייבים להיות בדמוקרטיה.
"האיזון הראוי ביותר בהליך דמוקרטי מבחינתי הוא בחירות כל ארבע שנים".
ויהיו עוד בחירות דמוקרטיות בישראל?
"זה לא ישתנה, עזבו, אל תיפלו לקונספרציות האלה. אנחנו לא אנשים קיצוניים. אנחנו דמוקרטיים יותר מהשמאל. אני אומר לכם באופן מפורש. הערכים הדמוקרטיים והליברליים שלנו בימים הם יותר גדולים וחזקים מאלו שבשמאל. אנחנו משתייכים למפלגה שיש בה פריימריז. בשאר המפלגות אין אפילו פריימריז, אין שם בחירות, יש אחד שמחליט. אצלנו 140 אלף מחליטים. אז בעניין דמוקרטיה, האמינו לי שאתם יכולים לסמוך על הערכים הדמוקרטיים שלנו. פעם בארבע שנים יהיו כאן בחירות והעם יחליט אם טוב לו, או לא טוב לו. אין שום סיבה שכשמישהו נמצא בהנהגה הוא לא יהיה במצב שבו הוא יוכל למשול ולהביא לידי ביטוי את האג'נדות שלו. כשהשמאל בהנהגת המדינה - הכל בסדר, לא צריך את פסקת ההתגברות. כי אז יש לו גיבוי תקשורתי. המערכת המשפטית הרבה יותר חיובית כלפי הממשלה. כשהימין עולה לשלטון יש עוינות תקשורתית ויש עוינות משפטית".
בנט זה שמאל?
"בנט הלך עם השמאל".
סער וליברמן?
"Meretz, the Labor Party, God willing, there were a lot of leftists there, more left than right. And when there is more left than right, then the left rules."
For dessert, which Chekhov play do you like best?
"As part of my duties as Minister of Culture and Sports, I hope that I will be invited to many, many Chekhov plays, which I will be able to participate in and enjoy the special content."
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Mickey Zohar
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