Israel’s President steps up criticism, warns of impending disaster

As protests reach their largest numbers ever, Isaac Herzog described the proposed laws as wrong, destructive, and an affront to Israel's democratic values.

President Isaac Herzog has delivered his strongest criticism yet of the proposed judicial overhaul, warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that “elected representatives and leaders are public servants and not masters."

In an address to the nation on Thursday,  Herzog said that over the past 10 weeks he had met with all sides  and that most disagreements have been resolved.

He said a resolution to the crisis was within reach if egos and political interests are set aside.

"We cannot allow a small detail - no matter how vital, to lead the country to disaster," he said. "The time to stop this is now.

"Our democracy is a value, an independent judiciary is a value, the rights of the minorities, gender equality, are our values, and yes more diversity in our courts is also a value," he said.

Israelis took to the streets for the tenth week straight in the largest demonstration in the country's history on Saturday, with organisers claiming as many as 500,000 pro-democracy protesters in attendance nationwide.

A record 50,000 Israelis rallied in Haifa – according to police estimates –while at least 8000 demonstrated in the southern city of Be'er Sheva, which is considered a Likud stronghold. Opposition leader Yair Lapid told the crowd there that Israel "is facing the greatest crisis in its history.”

He said on Friday  that Israel must enact a constitution to resolve the “terrible crisis” caused by  the Netanyahu government’s judicial overhaul.

“This dangerous government is right about only one thing: the old Israeli contract [with citizens] is no longer valid,” Lapid began, noting that the system was “off balance.”

He said in a statement[GU1]  that the constitution should begin with the first paragraph of the 1948 Declaration of Independence, stating the Land of Israel is the birthplace of the Jewish people.

In addition to the declaration, Lapid said, three basic laws would make up the constitution.

The first would be a declaration of the supremacy of the country’s Basic Laws and would subject all government authorities to restrictions established by law.

Lapid said the second law would require a “real, deep and courageous process” to determine the number of Haredi men that Israeli society and the economy can support in full-time study. Data from the Central Bureau of Statistics at the start of the year showed that with the ultra-Orthodox population’s current growth rate of 4% — the highest of any group in Israel — by the end of the decade, it will constitute 16% of the total population. A large percentage of Haredi men are in full-time study, meaning they are not in the workforce and are exempted from military service.

The third law, he said, would define the possibilities for judicial review of Knesset legislation.

READ MORE
Herzog says legislation pushed by coalition destructive and must be thrown out (Ynet)

Lapid proposes constitution for Israel to extract itself from ‘terrible crisis’ (Times of Israel)
Opposition chief calls to codify start of Declaration of Independence, limit judicial activism but maintain strong court, examine how many Haredi men can stay in full-time study

‘Biggest in Israeli History': Organisers claim half a million protesters in tenth week (Haaretz)
Armed with banners and flags, Israeli demonstrators turned out in droves for the tenth week to decry the Netanyahu-led government's judicial coup

ANALYSIS
In the battle over Israeli democracy, 'compromise' is the biggest fallacy (Alon Pinkas, Haaretz)
Would Americans compromise on the First Amendment? Can you really compromise on the basic tenets of democracy? Those calling on Israel's opposition to talk with Netanyahu's far-right government are ignoring a fundamental problem.

Israel’s long-awaited secular uprising is finally here (Anshel Pfeffer,Haaretz)
Israel's wave of protests isn't just about the balance of power between the government and judiciary. It is also about a secular middle class fighting to preserve Israel’s essential character.

Israel is facing a dead end. Is it time to split up? (Haaretz)
Quietly, a group of experts is weighing possible alternatives to Israel's embattled form of government. Will any liberal democrats be left in the country by the time they're ready to publicise their proposals?

Photo: President Isaac Herzog (GPO)