MK Rothman: ‘If judicial reform doesn’t pass, the government will collapse’

One of the architects of judicial overhaul warns that the government won’t survive if reform isn’t passed.

Israel National News    May 16, 2023, 11:55 AM (GMT+3)

MK Simcha Rothman with Justice Minister LevinYonatan Sindel/Flash90

Chairman of the Knesset’s Constitution Committee MK Simcha Rothman (Religious Zionist Party) called on the government Tuesday morning to move forward with the judicial reform plan, even if no deal can be reached with the Opposition regarding a compromise.

Speaking with Radio 103FM, Rothman blamed Opposition lawmakers for the deadlocked talks, adding that while he hopes an agreement is reached, the government must move forward with the overhaul regardless of the outcome of the talks.

The outcome of the talks “depends mostly on the Opposition; there is broad agreement that some reform needs to be passed. But if the Opposition maintains its default refusal for everything and attempts to sabotage [the takls], we will have to move forward unilaterally. The heads of the Coalition factions will decide how to proceed.”

Rothman criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for halting the judicial reform in the Knesset ahead of the Passover holiday season and warned that if the Coalition fails to pass the overhaul, the government will not survive.

“My position and my party’s position has been that stopping [the reform] was not the right move, though I hope that the Prime Minister will be vindicated. If stopping the reform leads to an agreement for the overhaul, then great, it was well-played.”

“But – and this is not a threat – without judicial reform, the Coalition will not be able to survive.”