Global Courant
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday his government intends to press ahead with plans for changes to the justice system after talks aimed at finding a solution appear to have failed.
Earlier this year, changes proposed by the government, which would have limited the Supreme Court’s powers to rule against the legislature and executive while giving coalition lawmakers more power in appointing judges, sparked the crisis. the heaviest interior in years.
Talks between the government and opposition parties somewhat eased the crisis, with efforts to find a middle ground for the proposed changes.
Those talks were rocked last week by a crisis over the composition of the regulatory commission responsible for appointing the country’s judges.
Opposition leaders said talks were frozen until the committee was formed.
At a meeting of his cabinet on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said the opposition had not participated in good faith in the talks and that his government would proceed, cautiously, with the changes.
“This week we will start the practical steps. We will do them in a prudent manner, with responsibility, but in accordance with the mandate we received to make changes in the justice system”, he said.
Due to the protests, Prime Minister Netanyahu decided at the end of March to postpone the approval of changes in the justice system.
The decision to go ahead is likely to inflame tensions and protests, which have continued every Saturday.
Protest leaders said they were ready for another round of demonstrations that would lead to the failure of “any attempt to undermine Israel’s democratic justice system.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, whose party had been negotiating with Mr Netanyahu, said going ahead with the changes unilaterally “will critically damage the economy and endanger Israel’s security”.
Global Courantl
