Netanyahu, Levin said to seek pause to overhaul
The report said the Charedi parties believe the overhaul has divided Israelis too much and are even willing to see its architect, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, quit his post, as he's threatened to do if the bills aren't advanced at a quick enough pace.
(TIMES OF ISRAEL) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ultra-Orthodox coalition partners are looking to freeze their divisive push to overhaul the judiciary, amid rising concerns among Charedi leaders about the cost to society and to their constituents, according to Hebrew media reports.
Prominent Charedi news site Kikar Hashabat reported on Tuesday that United Torah Judaism, whose support is crucial to Netanyahu’s hard-right, Likud-led coalition, demanded that the entire legislative process to curb the powers of the judiciary be halted indefinitely and only be advanced if there is broad agreement with the opposition.
Citing the head of one of the ultra-Orthodox Knesset factions, the report said Charedi coalition partners are deeply troubled by Netanyahu’s conduct and feel he’s trying to deflect the fierce criticism and opposition to the overhaul onto their community, including by issuing a statement against recent incidents of discrimination against women by ultra-Orthodox bus drivers and passengers, and against the backdrop of efforts to pass a bill regulating military exemptions for Charedi men.
According to the report, the demand for a freeze stems from concerns by Charedi leaders that the current outline of the overhaul – a highly controversial plan to weaken the judiciary and transfer some of its power to the executive and legislative branches – promises too few benefits to justify exposing their constituents to hostility by the overhaul’s opponents, and its divisive effects on Israeli society more broadly.
The report said the Charedi parties believe the overhaul has divided Israelis too much and are even willing to see its architect, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, quit his post, as he’s threatened to do if the bills aren’t advanced at a quick enough pace.
The report added that if more overhaul bills are brought for votes without the agreement of the opposition, the Charedi parties will vote against them.
Israel Hayom reported that Netanyahu and Levin were looking into freezing the overhaul for a year to calm the anti-overhaul movement and create the atmosphere needed to pass the controversial law regulating military draft exemptions for Charedi men.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against the overhaul in Tel Aviv and cities across the country, kicking off the 32nd straight week of protests against the plan, days after the government indicated that it still intends to pass a bill to remake the judicial selection committee.
At the main Tel Aviv protest, over 100,000 were in attendance, according to Channel 13 news. Other rallies were held at some 150 locations.
Protesters gathered at Kaplan Square for the main part of the rally and hundreds marched to the nearby home of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, calling “We are not afraid,” waving flags and blowing horns outside before eventually being pushed away by police. Hounding the homes of government ministers has been a staple of anti-overhaul protests from the beginning, echoing tactics employed last year by the Netanyahu-led opposition that eventually toppled the previous government and returned the Likud leader to power.
On Monday, hundreds of protesters converged at the entrance to Moshav Ramot near the Sea of Galilee, where Netanyahu arrived to begin his family vacation.
The protesters waved Israel flags and donned shirts with pro-democracy slogans, urging resistance to the judicial overhaul, as the premier’s convoy arrived at the entrance to the northern moshav.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant issued a joint statement on Tuesday defending the Israel Defence Forces and the security establishment, following repeated attacks on top IDF brass from within the coalition and from the premier’s son Yair in recent days.
The mounting attacks by lawmakers, Netanyahu confidants, right-wing media and others come as the IDF has repeatedly voiced concern over damage to the military readiness caused by some reservists’ refusals to carry out their duties in protest of the judicial overhaul legislation.
Netanyahu and Gallant said they are “working in close cooperation and fully backing the IDF chief of staff and IDF officers to guarantee the security of the country and its citizens”.
The pair said they “reject any attack against top officials in the security apparatus, and back IDF commanders and soldiers who are working day and night for the security of Israel”.
As the tumult over the judicial plan continues, the shekel continued to slide against the US dollar on Tuesday, trading at NIS 3.763, its lowest rate since March 2020.
Fitch Ratings on Monday affirmed Israel’s A+ credit rating with a stable outlook, as it did in March, but continued to warn of fallout if the government advances additional parts of its overhaul.
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