State President Yitzhak Herzog commented this morning (Tuesday) on the approval of the two sections of the legal reform by the Knesset. The president spoke at the “Yediot Ahronoth” conference, during which he said that he is “fearful of very worrying developments” and called for negotiations: “I appeal to the coalition and the opposition, especially to the coalition because the power is in its hands after yesterday – you will find a way to bring the opposition to negotiations.”
The two articles in the first law of the legal reform were approved by the plenary
“There is a sense of sorrow, there is no sense of celebration. There is a sense of sadness because many citizens of Israeli society who voted for this coalition are anxious for the unity of the people,” Herzog said at the beginning of his speech. “Every effort must be made so that it is possible to continue to conduct negotiations in order to reach an agreed outline that will take us out of this difficult period to an agreed constitutional reform.”
He also said, “After yesterday’s legislation, it is true that the coalition will extend a hand that will allow a sense of trust in the negotiation process. I put an outline on the table, I talked about it, an outline that is the right one for the dispute in Israeli society. It looks like a parade of folly. We are in a debate one at the other’s neck, each one deep in anxieties and fears His but there is a people here. There is a country here. Is this price worth it? Can’t we sit down, talk and resolve it? I said a few days ago and I repeat it – the dispute can be resolved. A solution can be reached. The majority of the people want a solution, the majority The people want an agreed outline.”
The president added that “from the right and the left and from all over the spectrum – everyone should demand to find a way”, and called for negotiations: “I appeal to the coalition and the opposition, especially the coalition because the power is in its hands after yesterday – you will find a way to bring the opposition to negotiations.”
“I am afraid of very worrying developments,” continued Herzog. “I hear what people say and write, I see expressions of hate that are impossible. This cannot be. Stop for a moment! I asked for an extension, I asked to wait but we are after that. Now is the opportunity. Prove that you intend to talk. It is possible to interpret and hold discussions on the outline, preferably, But you have to sit down and talk. There is a basic lack of trust between the parties. Each side says: I gave, I rejected, I did and more, but at the end there is a moment when, OK – you have passed legislation, now you will find the right way and steps to build trust and enter the room.”
“There is a hidden light in Israeli society. I see it every day. What good people we meet every day. A diverse, interesting society. We have put a cloud that hangs over us and we need to get rid of it before it’s too late. This reform was not born for nothing, it was born after years of deep frustration And criticism of the judicial system. I understand and agree. This criticism has a basis in certain things, but we will not undermine all the balances between the authorities. The debate is a level in the balance between the authorities, that’s why it is important,” the president noted.
In conclusion, he said: “What I say in chambers – let’s build trust. The outline maintains the balance. We are not far from reaching a settlement. This is the tragedy. If it was possible to bring everyone to a room for a real talk and not what their supporters write to them on Twitter and those who lead a campaign on their heads Rather, they take responsibility to lend a hand.”
The organizers of the protest demonstrations against the legal reform said in response to Herzog’s words that “the president abandoned the guiding principle that he himself established: stopping the legislation to the state it was before the votes in the committee and the plenum. It seems that he thinks he is the president of the Likud and not the president of the state. Instead of expressing a firm position against the basic law of the dictatorship He chooses to blame the hundreds of thousands who took to the streets as guilty of the situation and not those who are trying to assassinate democracy. The president should come out and declare that this is a clearly unconstitutional law and therefore he should announce that he will not appoint judges if the law passes.”