NETANYAHU SET TO PAUSE JUDICIAL REFORM TO ‘PREVENT RIFT IN NATION’
▶ Israeli Prime Minister hopes to pass justice bill through talks ▶ He claims an ‘extremist minority’ has been trying to divide country ▶ More than 80,000 people protest against legislation yesterday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday he would delay the process for discussions on the controversial planned judicial overhaul until next month.
Further readings of the justice bill will be delayed until after the Passover recess, he said, confirming a statement from the right-wing Jewish Power party in his coalition.
The party said the legislation would be pushed to the next session of the Israeli parliament to “pass the reform through dialogue”. Parliament will go on recess next week for the Passover holiday.
Mr Netanyahu said he “paused” the readings to reach a broad consensus “to prevent the rift in the nation”.
He placed the blame on an “extremist minority” trying to divide the country and hit out at army reservists who have refused to serve amid controversy over the proposed reforms.
“There are a minority of extremists that are willing to tear our country to shreds ... escorting us to civil war and calling for refusal of army service, which is a terrible crime,” Mr Netanyahu said.
The proposed changes, which critics have called an attack on Israel’s democracy, would make it harder for the Supreme Court to rule against the legislature and the executive.
The changes would also give the government more power to appoint judges.
The summer session is not due to begin until April 30, giving rival sides time to reach a
compromise as Israel is rocked by its biggest protests.
More than 80,000 Israelis took to the streets and almost all major industries went on strike yesterday in response to the proposed legislation and the firing of Yoav Gallant as
defence minister, after he attacked the bill at the weekend.
Diplomats at Israeli missions overseas were among the government employees on strike as citizens joined protests in major cities, chanting “the country is on fire”. Flights
from Ben Gurion Airport were grounded, retail chains and universities shut their doors, and Israel’s largest trade union called for its 800,000 members – in health, transport, banking and other fields – to stop work.
The government wanted to
ratify the bill concerning judicial appointments by April 2, before the break.
Others had already been deferred to April 30.
Right-wing backers of the overhaul called on supporters to hold counter-protests yesterday.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has come under fire for anti-Palestinian comments, was expected to attend.
“I call on all protesters in Jerusalem, from the left or the
right, to act in a responsible manner and not act with violence,” Mr Netanyahu tweeted.
In Jerusalem, Ron, a teenager, was gathered with five of his school classmates, waiting by a stage on which they hoped their “hero” Mr
Smotrich, would later be speaking to a gathering of counter-protesters.
“The opposition say the people don’t want reform, but they are the real minority and everyone here is the people,” Ron told The National.
Mr Smotrich is a key member of the far-right coalition that helped to propel Mr Netanyahu back to power in November.
Israel has been rocked by protests for months but current demonstrations have been fuelled by the Prime Minister’s dismissal of Mr Gallant.
Mr Gallant, a member of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, strongly criticised the Prime
Minister’s plans to overhaul the country’s judiciary.
Mr Netanyahu is now willing to allow Mr Gallant to return as minister as long as he resigns from parliament, which would prevent him from voting against the judicial reforms, Kan public broadcaster reported yesterday.