Bezalel Smotrich: 'President Herzog is a leftist, he can't broker judicial reform talks’
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionist Party) took aim at President Isaac Herzog Tuesday, accusing the head of state of being unfit to broker talks between the Coalition and Opposition on the government's contentious judicial reform plan.
Speaking with Radio Kol Barama Tuesday morning, Smotrich pushed back on Herzog's comments Monday evening, in which he sided with the Opposition's demand to continue talks and refrain from passage of any legislation on the judicial overhaul until a comprehensive deal is reached spanning all elements of the reform.
Smotrich demanded immediate passage of legislation barring courts from striking down government decisions based on the reasonableness standard - one of two minor parts of the judicial reform upon which the two sides appear to be close to reaching an agreement on.
In the interview, Smotrich called Herzog a "man of the Left," and accused him of bias in his handling of the controversy and efforts to broker a deal.
"The president presented his plan in the past in a one-sided manner, he is a left-wing person, and unfortunately, he cannot be a fair mediator," said Smotrich.
"Deri should have been returned to the cabinet a long time ago," Smotrich continued, referring to Shas chairman MK Aryeh Deri, who was dismissed from his position as Health Minister and Interior Minister earlier this year, following a Supreme Court ruling based on the reasonableness standard.
"He was voted in democratically by 400,000 voters. The court ruling in his case is unprecedented. The reasonableness law that we are promoting is more comprehensive and not just related to Deri."
"There are elements on the Left, opponents of the reform, who are willing to destroy everything, harm national security and the economy. Irresponsible players like Olmert and Halutz, who are extremists and ready to dismantle everything. We will lead the changes responsibly and with careful consideration.”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/373013
No comments:
Post a Comment