Knesset to vote on its slots for judge selection panel

Gantz, Lapid: ‘Dialogue is only path to solution’ • Rothman: Talks are ‘futile, meaningless’

The confidential Knesset vote to choose the legislature’s two spots on the Judicial Selection Committee will be held on June 14, Knesset Speaker MK Amir Ohana (Likud) announced late Monday night, at what could be a crucial moment in the ongoing talks at the President’s Residence between the coalition and opposition over the government’s proposed judicial reforms.

The makeup of the committee, which elects judges for Israel’s entire court system, including for the Supreme Court, is one of the most contested issues between the coalition and opposition in negotiations. The coalition wishes to give itself a majority in the committee and thus control judicial appointments, while the opposition claims that this will politicize the courts and harm the judicial system.

Ohana’s announcement indicates that the coalition will form the committee based on the existing makeup, and will include three Supreme Court justices (one of whom is the chief justice), two ministers (one of whom is the justice minister), two Knesset members and two members of the Israel Bar Association. One each of the justices, Knesset members, ministers and Bar Association members must be a woman.

The coalition traditionally enabled the opposition to fill one of the two Knesset spots in the committee. However, coalition members threatened in recent weeks that if no agreements are announced over the judicial reforms by the time the June 14 vote is held, it will use its majority in the Knesset to break this tradition and grant

itself both of the Knesset’s spots on the committee.

Members of the opposition’s negotiating teams threatened in response that if the coalition does this, they will leave the negotiations at the President’s Residence.

Knesset members will have until June 7 to file their candidacy. Therefore, by June 7 the opposition should know the coalition’s intentions: If the coalition puts forward just one candidate, the second candidate will necessarily come from the opposition. But if the coalition puts forward two candidates, then it likely means that it intends to fill both Knesset slots on the committee with coalition MKs, and leave out the opposition.

National Unity MK Benny Gantz lauded Ohana’s announcement regarding the vote for the Judicial Selection Committee. “This is an important milestone in fortifying the rule of law, and it is also important for citizens – who need the Judicial Selection Committee to form, judges to be appointed and legal processes to progress,” Gantz said.

President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday stressed the importance of the talks. “We can reach understandings. It takes effort, goodwill, and leadership, and I say: Ignore the background noise and think about the goal…No one will violate our values or basic principles.”

Earlier yesterday, Religious Zionist Party MK Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee and a central proponent of the judicial reforms, said on Kan Radio that the talks were “meaningless,” and that “if the president had wanted to lead to agreements, he had thousands of opportunities [to do so].”

“I do not intend to waste my precious time on futile discussions,” he added.

Lapid and Gantz responded on Tuesday evening: “We are continuing all the time in a true attempt to reach broad agreements, and are committed to keeping Israel democratic and stable. We are attentive to the voices and know that most of the public want dialogue over leaving the room.

“Dialogue at the President’s Residence is the only possibility to find a joint solution. Nonetheless, we clarified that the continuation of the talks are contingent on the chance to reach an advancement, on the commitment to the process in the room and outside of it, and on stopping the sword of the judicial overhaul with a clear commitment that there will be no legislation that will lead to a change in Israel’s system of government.”

The joint statement was also likely intended as a show of unity after tension developed in recent days over who the opposition’s candidate for the selection panel would be – Yesh Atid MK Karin

Elharrar, National Unity MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, or Labor MK Efrat Rayten.

Ynet reported on Tuesday that “officials in National Unity” had reached out to Likud Knesset members in an attempt to garner their support for Tamano-Shata. However, a spokesperson for Gantz denied the report, calling it “lies and spin” likely put out by the Likud in order to fuel the tensions in the opposition.

PROTESTS

Affairs Ministry. MK’s Simcha Rothman (RZP), Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid), Yitzhak Pindrus (UTJ), Michal Waldiger (RZP), Ohad Tal (RZP), Shalom Danino (Likud), Sharon Nir (Yisrael Beiteinu), Evgeny Sova (Yisrael Beytenu), Orit Farkash-HaCohen (National Unity Party) and Ram Ben Barak (Yesh Atid) will attend as well.

The consulate and JCRCNY clarified that “specific names will be provided upon request,” regarding the Israeli politicians who will be participating. Gideon Taylor, executive vice president & CEO of JCRC-NY, told The Jerusalem Post that “the parade is an opportunity for people to come together with different viewpoints and opinions to show connections and relationships with Israel; to be in one place at the same time. We will be celebrating the vibrancy of Israeli society. We want to celebrate together, acknowledging Israel with all of its diversity and complexity in honor of its 75th Independence Day.

The organization said earlier that it “appreciate[s] that many people in Israel and around the world continue to passionately protest with deeply held views concerning the future directions of Israel. We welcome participants with different viewpoints and opinions to show their love for Israel and participate in the parade.”

Sources close to the event explained that security will be tight as usual this year, adding that this is not the first time protests are expected at the parade, though the number is higher this year.

Israel Nitzan, consul-general of Israel in New York, said that “this year, as we commemorate the landmark 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding, I am deeply moved by the overwhelming exhibition of warmth and solidarity. Truly, it’s a testament to the strength of our bonds and our shared future.”

A number of rabbis and Jewish leaders spoke out about the parade, the political tensions and the fear of large or violent demonstrations.

David Ingber, founding rabbi of the Romemu community, said that the parade “isn’t about the government or the very worrying efforts under way to undermine democracy in Israel. It is about the history, culture, and people of Israel and we will be participating in order to show our belief both in

what has been achieved over 75 years and in what still remains to be done – a task in which we all have a role to play.”

Ethan Felson from the A Wider Bridge organization for LGBTQ rights in the Jewish community, added that “we have never viewed this parade to be about a specific government or set of policies. Rather, we march as supporters of the Jewish state and its citizens, including those who are LGBTQ.”

The organizers did not invite the government representatives and therefore it isn’t under their control, while some MK’s can potentially surprise them and show up. They stressed that there will be different types of Jewish organizations represented in the parade, such as the progressive Ameinu organization and Orthodox Jewish day schools. “Most people at the parade don’t come for the Israeli ministers, they come because they want to support Israel,” one of the organizers said.

President Isaac Herzog recorded a special video in honor of the parade, intended to be published before the event, in an effort to cool down the political tensions. Talks are currently taking place at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem to try to reach a compromise over the judicial reforms. In the video, Herzog said: “Let us take this opportunity to work together in solidarity and to remind ourselves of the power of our unity and togetherness of the spirit of peace and fraternity, to build, to renew and to heal.

“Now more than ever, I urge you all to join me in supporting the Israel parade, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel. Let us raise our voices together to celebrate everything we’ve achieved and everything we have yet to build together for our shared future, and the future of our children.”

in their private vehicles, as additional train times were added to accommodate the volume of people. Magen David Adom medical teams were spread out throughout the space of the funeral, giving medical care to a few dozen people that fainted. Three of them were evacuated to nearby hospitals for medical care.

Shas and its leader Arye Deri released a statement mourning the death of Edelstein, a “remnant of a generation which preached the Torah to thousands and taught generations of geonim, yeshiva heads and students.”

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi David Lau also mourned Edelstein’s death, saying the rabbi “strongly and decidedly led the Jewish People even at his ripe age. I had the privilege to be near him during my studies at the Ponevezeh yeshiva and through guidance and wise advice in all religious matters until very recently,” Lau added.

“How could this happen?” mourned Rabbi David Levi, Edelstein’s son-in-law, adding that Edelstein’s “main goal in life was to lead students in the path of God, good values and sociability. You never hurt a fly; you would always to look at everyone with a positive outlook.”

“The Torah world and the entire Jewish People lost a brilliant scholar and leader... who lived a sacred life,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. “I mourn his passing and send my deepest condolences to the family.”

US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides expressed his condolences on Edelstein’s passing, tweeting that he was “saddened to hear today of the passing of my friend, Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, a spiritual leader to hundreds of thousands. I just saw him a couple of weeks ago. It was an honor to have known him. May his memory be a blessing.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the prime minister spoke to Degel Hatorah faction head, coalition member MK Moshe Gafni following his spiritual leader’s passing. Gafni, following assessments held with Israel Police, called on all Israelis wishing to attend the funeral to arrive in Bnei Brak as soon as possible due to expected congestion on public transport ahead of the ceremony.

“He fulfilled two roles: Being the head of the yeshiva and being the head of the generation,” said Rabbi Baruch Moredechai Ezrachi, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah.