‘Worst Political Fiasco Since 1977’: Likud Disappointed With PM After Humiliating Judicial Selections Defeat

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israel’s coalition leaders are licking their wounds after Wednesday’s defeat in the judicial selections committee vote, blaming prime minister Netanyahu for the appointment of opposition MK Karin Elharar to the powerful committee, which controls the appointments of judges at all levels of the judiciary system in Israel. Calls have even gone out in right-wing circles to demonstrate against Netanyahu, who is seen as blocking all attempts to implement key reforms in the system.

The coalition was split over whether to submit two of its own members to serve on the committee, thus parting from tradition which has usually meant a member of the coalition and opposition on the committee. The new move would have upended the talks regarding judicial reforms but proponents say they will pass the reforms without the opposition. However Netanyahu and some Likud leaders called for allowing an opposition member on the committee in return for unanimously adopting some reforms which could be acceptable to all sides.

In the event, all the coalition MKs slated to serve on the committee revoked their nominations except for Likud MK Tali Gottlieb, who insisted on maintaining her candidacy.  With the coalition split and the opposition united, only Elharar was voted into the committee, representing a crushing blow to the coalition’s political fortunes and ability to promote its legislative agenda.

Netanyahu may have wanted this outcome, as he is currently preoccupied with other affairs including Iran and his own legal issues and did not need further mass protests if the coalition denied the opposition a representative on the committee. However senior Likud ministers described it as the “worst fiasco since 1977[the year the Likud first took power]” and accused the prime minister of weakening the coalition to advance his own political goals.

The ministers will now seek to force the prime minister’s hand and implement the reforms in the Judicial Selection Committee which were submitted by Justice Minister Levin and approved in the spring Knesset session for final reading. Their success will depend on whether the coalition can galvanize its fractured ranks to vote as one for the reforms or whether they will once again be stymied by infighting and indecision.