After the coalition rejected the president's compromise outline for reforming the justice system, Diaspora Minister and Minister for Social Equality, Amichai Chikli, claimed Sunday morning on an Israeli radio show that a softened reform will be presented and it is the one that will be promoted. "Now we need to soften the reform unilaterally. A softened reform will be presented and it is the one that will be promoted. There may be changes in the schedules, that's where we're headed," he said.

However, according to Yariv Levin and Simcha Rothman, the two lawmakers who are leading the effort to push through the legislation, there will be no compromising and the bills will be passed hopefully before the end of the Winter session which ends Arpil 2, just before the Passover holiday. In reality, the coalition has the votes to pass it, however following Knesset procedure the bills must make their way through the various readings, and while the coalition says they are interested in dialogue, they have also made it clear they have no intention of altering the bill significantly. 

Last Thursday MK David Bitan from the Likud said on Channel 2 News that the chances of a compromise with the opposition are slim, but the coalition may soften the reform unilaterally. "Netanyahu wants a compromise, but the president's outline is not something he can agree to, I don't know if there is a Likudnik who can agree to the outline. I expect Levin and Rothman to take a seat and aid us with this. Levin should see what is happening in the country, we are responsible for its management," he claimed.

Israel: Tonight a meeting of the heads of the coalition in preparation for a "unilateral softening" of the judicial reform

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) March 19, 2023

As a reminder, the country's president Yitzhak Herzog presented last Wednesday the outline he formulated for the reform of the judicial system. The purpose of the outline was to outline a basis for legislative procedures. However, the coalition attacked, when Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated that "this is not the plan of the people and I am not sure that it is the plan of half the people." 

The prime minister also said that "what was presented to the president by the coalition regarding the committee for the appointment of judges included an outline of two stages, a certain immediate correction and then a balance. The president heard these things and put them aside. I am attentive to what is happening in the nation, but we need to bring something that is in line with the mandate we received and we will do it in a responsible manner."

Sephardic Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef is now calling for negotiations on Netanyahu's 'judicial reform.' "There should be dialogue, so God forbid there is no civil war, we are all kin." He emphasized that the Supreme Court needs to understand it can't meddle in religious matters. https://t.co/KbICkTtBFU

— Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي (@NTarnopolsky) March 18, 2023

However, today the coalition will continue to discuss two key sections of the reform and will prepare them for a second and third reading in the plenary. The Constitution Committee, chaired by Knesset member Simcha Rothman, will continue to discuss the "Foundational Bill: The Judiciary (Amendment No. 3)", in which the Supreme Court will not have the opportunity to discuss the validity of fundamental laws, and will prepare it for a second and third reading in the plenary. The committee will also discuss the most significant section of Minister Yariv Levin's judicial reform, as they prepare for more readings on the composition of the committee for appointing justices.