In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the next legislative item in the pipeline for judicial reform is a change to the committee responsible for selecting judges. He emphasized, "Following this, we will refrain from advancing additional laws on the topic." Netanyahu remains hopeful about avoiding a constitutional crisis, stating, "I genuinely believe that a constitutional crisis is avoidable and we can find a reasonable compromise. That's my goal."
Netanyahu shared with Bloomberg that significant progress has already been made. "We halted the judicial legislation process for a span of three months, hoping to garner consensus. Sadly, that consensus remained elusive. I then decided to introduce and pass a comparatively less significant segment of the reform. I intend to devote a few more months to achieve a consensus on the remaining parts. Primarily, our focus is on the composition of the committee that oversees the election of judges. Other than that, I believe further legislation is unnecessary."
EXCLUSIVE: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says he won’t pursue the entire judicial overhaul originally planned by his government https://t.co/Buherfcsto pic.twitter.com/QNVsbhyfDJ
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) August 6, 2023
After the successful passage of the “Reasonableness Clause,” Netanyahu declared his intention for the coalition to engage with the opposition for discussions. His aim is to "forge a comprehensive agreement on all relevant issues," ideally a month post the Knesset’s return from its break. Expanding on his decision to not chase other elements of the judicial reform, he elaborated, “A shift from our current situation, where arguably we have one of the world's most proactive judicial courts, to one where the Knesset could potentially override every judicial decision, isn’t the answer. Our focus is on achieving equilibrium.”
Netanyahu confidently assured, "I have complete faith in Israel's resilience and its commitment to democratic principles, perhaps even more so now. The possibility of internal conflict or civil unrest isn't on the horizon. The differences we're witnessing today are merely the byproducts of contrasting ideologies that are yet to align harmoniously. I am optimistic that they will."
EXCLUSIVE: Benjamin Netanyahu says he won’t pursue the entire judicial overhaul originally planned by his government, working only to change the makeup of the judge selection committee while abandoning any other steps https://t.co/b5ldQOuggc pic.twitter.com/ySQY9e7ULK
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) August 7, 2023
On a concluding note, Netanyahu shed light on Israel's economic landscape amidst the ongoing demonstrations. He described the economic panorama saying, "While there's evident volatility in short-term markets, long-term markets exhibit unmistakable stability." As a message to global investors and in an effort to bolster confidence in Israel’s economy, he proclaimed Israel as an "undervalued" investment destination. With conviction, he stated, “Investing in Israel is wise. We are witnessing an influx of astute capital into the country.”
