Head Of Policy Forum Promoting Judicial Reforms In Israel: ‘Override Clause Won’t Pass, Its Stupid’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Kohelet policy forum, a think tank composed of leading right-wing conservatives in Israel has been the leading influence behind the Netanyahu government’s judicial reforms. The reforms include an override clause which would enable the government to vote down Supreme Court rulings that invalidate Knesset legislation, effectively neutering the court’s power unless the court rules almost unanimously to cancel laws.

The clause has been touted by the coalition as a means of enabling the government to pursue its policies, but now the head of the Kohelet forum, Prof. Moshe Koppel, says that the clause is superfluous and “totally idiotic” adding that “no one ever thought it would pass.” Koppel’s statements are extremely disturbing to the chareidi parties, who were hoping that the override clause would enable them to prevent the court from striking down draft laws.

Koppel’s words were reported by a Channel 13 reporter covering a recent closed meeting held in Manhattan.

“I want to make one thing absolutely clear,” Koppel said in the recording obtained by Channel 13. “What we told [Justice Minister] Yariv Levin and [Constitution Committee chairman] Simcha Rothman is that the Override Clause is totally stupid and that we never wanted it. It was a political issue.”

Koppel blamed the chareidi political parties for pressuring the government to include it in the reform package. “The charedim persuaded us, due to the Draft Law. But now, a lot of charedim understand, among themselves, and they’re also saying this in Shas, that you just need to solve the Draft Law issue with a Basic Law and then they don’t care about the Override Clause. But Gafni of United Torah Judaism is still insisting on passing an Override Clause.

“Why do the haredim want it?” Koppel asked rhetorically. “They want it because they have specific problems and they’re worried that the Supreme Court will invalidate certain laws, such as the Draft Law. The Draft Law is just one thing, but it also involves gender segregation, which is a really hot topic.”

Koppel added that, “The Override Clause isn’t going to happen. No one ever thought that there would be an Override Clause, and I’m telling you – listen to me, read my lips – there isn’t going to be an Override Clause.”

In response, Moshe Gafni attacked the Kohelet forum, claiming that “they are part of the left wing already” and decrying the “atrocious behavior” of Koppel, which “harms a large sector whose lifestyle is different from his. We will continue to promote the override law and I will submit it at the next meeting of coalition leaders.”