President Herzog: ‘Israel on the verge of societal and constitutional collapse’
Israel's president warned about the government's controversial judicial reforms which he said could harm the "democratic foundations," of the country.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog warned in an unprecedented televised speech on Sunday night that the government’s controversial judicial reforms could harm the country’s “democratic foundations.”
Herzog proposed that the government suspend the legislative process, set to begin on Monday when the Knesset will vote on the first bills of the judicial reform plan.
“Millions of citizens here, alongside the Jews of the Diaspora and great supporters of Israel across the world, see the reform as a real threat to Israeli democracy,” Herzog said, referring to the mass demonstrations across the country.
The reforms, if implemented, will allow parliament to pass any bill it wants without the High Court of Justice being able to strike it down, give the government a majority of representatives on the committee that appoints High Court judges, and prevent the High Court from interfering with ministerial appointments deemed “unreasonable” as in the case with Shas party leader Arieh Dery.
“I believe that the sum of all parts of the reform, in its current form, raises deep concerns about their potential negative impact on the democratic foundations of the State of Israel,” Herzog said.
Herzog acknowledged the need to reform certain aspects of the judicial system, proposing that all sides come together to reach a compromise.
The President also laid out his own five-point reform plan, which included easing the judicial burden by appointing more judges, passing a bill that would allow the High Court judicial oversight over non-Basic laws, and ensuring that Basic Laws would only be passed with a “wide agreement.”
Israel doesn’t have a constitution but a set of Basic Laws that are amendable. The High Court’s ability to strike down Knesset legislation that would harm civil rights is therefore seen by many Israelis as the only way to prevent “democratic tyranny.”
Herzog’s last minute appeal to the government and opposition parties was welcomed by leader of the National Unity party, Benny Gantz.
On Monday night, the two architects of the government’s judicial reforms, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, Simcha Rhotman, issued a joint statement, inviting both Lapid and Gantz to meet at Herzog’s office to negotiate.
Lastly, Herzog warned about incitement and the risk of violence erupting as a result of the deep disagreements over the judicial reforms:“”I feel – we all feel – that we are moments from a crash, perhaps even a violent one.”
“The powder keg is about to explode, and brothers are about to raise their hands against brothers. I request, I implore each and every one of you — my Israeli brothers and sisters: the threats [to Israel] from outside are big enough. Violence of any kind — and even more so violence against public servants and elected officials — is a red line that we must not cross under any circumstances,” Herzog said.
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