The chairman of the state camp, Benny Gantz, today (Monday) referred to the reform of the justice system promoted by the government, when he attacked the conduct of the coalition and the continued promotion of the law despite the widespread protest and criticism against it. In his words, opening the faction meeting, Gantz presented the threshold conditions for discussions on the matters, and warned that if The reform will continue – many citizens stayed in the country.
“The protest against the regime coup is necessary. Violence or incitement – they must not enter its gates. Not on the networks, not at demonstrations, not in Tel Aviv and not in Neve Ya’akov. Nowhere, unequivocally,” Gantz said. “I call on the public to continue to come out and express their protest by all legal means – here in front of the Knesset, also on the streets and everywhere. If the galloping continues, we will also use the right to strike – and masses of citizens will stop the state from falling.”
“What are the coup promoters actually asking to do? An escalation clause – to prevent equality of burden. A political majority in the committee for the selection of judges – to allow Netanyahu to appoint the judges who will hear his appeal. Politicization of the legal advice in the ministries – so that every minister will be a sheriff. And the abolition of the reason of reasonableness – to qualify appointments and jobs – while undermining the protection of the small citizen.”
“What are they not doing? They are not taking care of what will help the citizen: increasing the number of judges, strengthening the supervision of investigations and the functioning of the prosecutor’s office, preventing judicial torture, increasing transparency, strengthening judicial certainty and safeguarding the rights of the citizen vis-à-vis the administration, and more,” he continued and claimed. “Today we are celebrating the ‘birthday of the Knesset’. Unfortunately, from a constituent assembly, this place has become a legislative arm of the government. When we talk about ‘reform’ and separation of powers, it is important to refer to mechanisms that will strengthen its independence and ability to monitor the government.”
“The rapacity, contempt and arrogance deserve condemnation”
Gantz went on to attack Levin’s opponent and Simcha Rothman: “There used to be a slogan – ‘Stop before you pass.’ When the system of the regime is at stake. The fundamental law of human dignity and freedom – they passed in one year. The law of direct election in three. If the government is here for four years – what is the hurry? The situation where every hand that is extended is rejected – shameful.”
“Even the two weeks that the president of the country requests to stop and spend in order to examine negotiations – are refused with contempt” Gantz attacked. “The rapacity, disdain and arrogance even towards the institution of the presidency deserve condemnation. There is no dignity in them or respect for the country and its symbols.”
He later presented conditions for talks on the reform: “For me, any dialogue with the government will be based on three principles and without compromise on democracy: stopping the legislative process for a deep dialogue between teams with representatives from the coalition and the opposition – there will not be a situation where one committee is running a regime coup, and next to it there is a ‘committee Quixote’ who conducts idle debates in order to silence the protests. The delay of the legislation is a basic seriousness fee.”
“At the same time, we will be required to talk about promoting comprehensive legislation and a basic law, with an emphasis on assisting citizens. Without stages and without ‘continuation of imports,'” he clarified. “And in any situation – we will oppose the politicization of the selection of gatekeepers and judges.”
“We see that there are results for the struggle and that public support for the government is eroding,” he concluded. “We only need 4 coalition members who will ask to be on the right side of history, who will say yes to a broad consensus and amendments, and not to the destruction of the country’s basic values. I know there are many in the coalition who are democrats, ginists. On the day of judgment, I hope they will gather courage and refuse to vote against democracy the Israeli one”.