With less than 80 days left for Israelis to go to the polls for the fourth time in two years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strongest opponent has made a clear addition to his political list and promised a series of major reforms if elected.
Gideon Sa’ar, a long-time Likud lawmaker who last month rallied by forming his own party, over the weekend dismissed a major coup, sends grandson of Yitzhak Shamir who was Prime Minister of Likud.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former friend of Gideon Sa’ar
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
Shamir, who was deeply involved in the founding of Israel and preceded Netanyahu’s first term as prime minister, serving from 1983 to 1984 and from 1986 to 1992, is considered one of the fathers of set the party right.
On Saturday, Shamir ‘s granddaughter, Michal Diamant, announced that she was refusing to join Likud’ s party and would run for office as part of Sa’ar ‘s New Hope party.
“The Likud is no longer the party I was familiar with and grew up with,” Diamant said. “One of the most important things my grandfather fought for was unity within our people. Today’s leadership is trying to inspire the opposite. ”
Yitzhak shamir and michal diamond
(Photo: Yuval Chen, David Rubinger)
“He wouldn’t be happy with the current situation, I’m sure,” Diamant said. “The Prime Minister of Israel should be motivated by principles and ideals, not just political enumeration.”
Transport Minister Miri Regev, Likud’s party lawyer, went out at Diamant over her vandalism, telling her: “If your grandfather had seen you today, he would have turned into his grave.”
Sa’ar said Diamant, a lawyer, would lead the party’s legal reform campaigns and would be responsible for putting together a New Hope policy platform on the subject.
Two key issues that the former interior and education minister is committed to fundamentally change are the nomination process for Supreme Court judges, and the authority and scope of Israel’s attorney general.
Over the years, the issue of independence and the accessibility of the justice system has come under considerable scrutiny, with right-wing parties calling for the power of the High Court and a common lawyer to be limited, accusing them of seriousness. -activity and capturing a liberal agenda.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears in Jerusalem District Court in May as part of his corruption trial
(Photo: Contact)
Netanyahu, who has long been a strong defender of the independence of the courts, has in recent years – and moreover after being convicted of allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust – been above the growing criticism.
“During his 15-year reign, Netanyahu neglected the legal system, and even failed to implement reform,” a New Hope spokesman said.
“At the same time, Sa’ar passed important laws on the issue. Our system needs to settle, not destroy. There is much to be done, and we will get it done. “
Prof. Gad Barzilai, former dean of the law faculty of Haifa University, believes that some of the latest recommendations should be accepted, while others will only do more harm than good.
“Separating the general role of the lawyer into two separate, independent posts – attorney general and chief prosecutor – will only strengthen our adjudication system,” he says.
“Nearly two-thirds of democratic legal governments have adopted this in some form.”
The attorney general ‘s office is currently responsible for advising government ministers on the validity of proposed bills and other policy matters, and by representing the government in court.
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit
(Photo: Amit Shabi)
At the same time, the attorney general is responsible for prosecuting members of government, including the prime minister, for suspected crimes.
Barzilai wants the constitutional reform proposed by Sa’ar, and several politicians and legal experts before it, to be accomplished without harming the system.
“This needs to be done carefully, deliberately, by an independent committee. It can remove the pressure and pollution inside the system, ”he says.
“He will not dismiss the attorney general as he fears, as he will retain the powers to represent and advise, and will be able to refer criminal cases and investigations to the prosecutor. , which will be an individual independent arm. “
As for the more controversial proposal that is sure to be present on the New Hope agenda, legal analysts are much more lazy.
Sa’ar, Diamant and other right-wingers promise to hold open-door hearings for all named in Supreme Court justice, reflecting the famous American way. Opponents say this would turn Israel’s justice selection process into a vision and bring politics into the mix unnecessarily.
Israel’s current system for electing judges consists of a nine-member committee made up of lawyers, lawyers, government ministers and Supreme Court judges, who vote and vote. approval of candidates for all three levels of the courts of the country.
While Barzilai insists that any proposal should not be rejected out of hand before it is seriously considered, “by sending nominees to parliamentary hearings the whole process would be turned into to be a dangerous, controversial political party. “
“Israel’s naming process is one of the best in the world.” Our system is very professional and independent, ”he says.
“Without an established foundation like the US, this change would do it a lot of damage.”