Posted on 03/26/23
| News Source: Arutz-7
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday night held consultations with members of the coalition, following the mass demonstrations that broke out throughout Israel against the judicial reform.
While officials in the Likud Party said there is a possibility that Netanyahu may announce a pause of the legislation, Justice Minister Yariv Levin expressed his opposition to stopping the judicial reform. Shas and United Torah Judaism would reportedly support a pause, but Netanyahu has not yet made a final decision.
The Otzma Yehudit Party said, "We are strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin in not stopping the legislation. The right has no mandate to give up the judicial reform and surrender to violence. The majority of the people supported us so that we can govern."
Businessman and journalist Jacob Bardugo, a close confidante of Netanyahu, called for a recalculation of the course. "The country is above all. It doesn't matter now who is right and who is wrong, it would be right to recalculate the course."
Earlier, senior officials in the coalition said that "it is more than likely that the reform will be delayed."
Culture Minister Miki Zohar said, "We paid a heavy price for the failure to provide information. The reform of the judicial system is necessary and vital, but when the house is on fire, you don't ask who is right, but rather pour water on the fire and save its occupants. If the Prime Minister decides to stop the legislation to prevent the rift that has been created in the nation, we must support his position."
Minister Nir Barkat also expressed support for stopping the legislation. "The State of Israel is above everything. A united Israeli people is above everything. I will support the Prime Minister in the decision to stop and recalculate the course. The reform is necessary and we will carry it out - but not at the cost of civil war."