Opposition calls for freezing negotiations with the government on the judicial overhaul
Israeli Transport Minister Miri Regev stated on Sunday that the government will proceed with its judicial reform plan immediately following the Passover holiday.
“The reform was only put on [temporary]hold, and there is a [known]date for the next session – immediately after Independence Day [on April 25], we are continuing with the legislation,” Regev said, according to The Jerusalem Post.
According to Regev, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “paused [legislation]to allow for negotiation, but if none, we will bring it [back up]for reconfirmation.”
In response, opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman urged Israeli opposition parties to halt talks with the government on a judicial reform bill.
“Stop selling illusions and pretending to negotiate when everyone knows that at the end of the “negotiations” process, Netanyahu will, as usual, instigate and blame the opposition and the rest of the world for failure to reach an agreement,” Lieberman tweeted.
“He [Netanyahu] has a clear plan to pass the legislation,” he added.
Over the last three months, Israel has seen mass protests against Netanyahu’s government’s plans for judicial reform, which the opposition sees as an attempt to weaken the judicial authority in favor of the executive.
Netanyahu, on the other hand, insists that his judicial plan will strengthen democracy and restore the balance of legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, bowed to pressure on Monday and announced a temporary halt to the judicial reform plans.
