In the midst of the storm surrounding the Kohelet Policy Reform, which is behind the legal reform promoted by Benjamin Netanyahu's new government, reports now show that President Isaac Herzog met with senior officials of the forum, in preparation for the passage of the judicial reforms in the Knesset.

The meeting was kept under the radar and took place last Thursday at the President's residence for senior representatives from Kohelet. The organization has been making headlines in recent weeks for its part in the writing of Yariv Levin’s judicial reforms and plans. It’s worth noting that an article published yesterday by The Judean regarding support for the reform from the Wall Street Journal did not mention that the author of a second Op-Ed that the Journal printed is in fact a member of the Kohelet Forum, which has been promoting Israel’s Supreme Court reforms. 

It seems that the meeting between Kohelet members and the Israeli president is part of a series of meetings held by the president in recent days, and conversations with many parties, with the goal of reaching as broad an understanding as possible regarding the current tense political climate. Among other things, Herzog spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President of the Supreme Court Ester Hayut, opposition leader Yair Lapid and other senior officials involved.

Israeli opposition leader @yairlapid called on President @Isaac_Herzog to form an apolitical committee to fix and improve Israel's judicial system.

Report by @BreuerEliav | #Israel https://t.co/1zcZ8axnZJ

— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) January 23, 2023

During the press conference on the presentation of the legal plan, Levin himself thanked the head of the legal department at Kohelat, Dr. Aviad Bakshi. In a Hebrew interview last week, Bakshi was recorded saying "besides the research, we also work to promote our ideas in front of the decision-makers from all parties and use our research to convince, and sometimes to team up with those who are convinced and stand as in the case of Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who has been working on these issues for twenty years. We also dive into details and deal not only with the titles but also with the sections. I am happy that the Minister of Justice Yariv Levin chose to consult with us on these issues as well, as part of his preparatory work."

Russell Shalev, a lawyer at the Kohelet Policy Forum, on the proposed reforms. It all really comes down to the basic question of who ultimately decides. Is it Israel’s citizens, or its judges?
(מאמר של עו"ד אברהם ראסל שלו, חוקר במחלקה המשפטית בפורום קהלת)https://t.co/yZtV2D7c9C

— פורום קהלת Kohelet (@KoheletForum) December 6, 2022

Members of the Kohelat Forum advise a number of Knesset members and ministers past and present from all different political parties, including Ze'ev Elkin, Nir Barkat, Ayelet Shaked, Amir Ohana, Bezalel Smotrich, Gideon Sa'ar, Orit Struck, and many more. 

During the heated discussions in the Constitutional Committee of the Knesset on the legal changes, the MKs mentioned, among other things, the intervention of the Kohelet Forum in the drafting. "Unseen interests", MK Naama Lazimi called it. And MK Karin Elharer adds: "I also had advisers, they never sat around the table with the name of a professional adviser badge for the chairman of the committee."