Talks on judicial reform to continue during Passover

(A7) The negotiations between the coalition and the opposition on a compromise on the judicial reform, which are taking place at the President’s Residence, will also take place during Chol Hamoed Pesach (the intermediate days of Passover), Kan 11 News reported on Monday.

Legal experts on behalf of the teams will meet during Chol Hamoed to draft outlines and a marathon of several days of discussions with the participation of the parties’ representatives is scheduled to take place after the holiday.

At a meeting held on Monday morning, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a member of the coalition team and a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said that “Netanyahu really wants a compromise.” The representatives of the National Unity Party said that they will show creativity regarding the selection of the judges.

The main portion of Monday’s negotiations centered around the coalition’s demand to abolish the seniority system, according to which the oldest judge in office will be appointed President when the outgoing President ends his term, as well as the opposition’s demand to deny the coalition a majority in the Judicial Selection Committee.

The compromise proposed in the discussions on the Judicial Selection Committee would see the President of the Supreme Court being chosen with the consent of both parties in the committee – both judges and politicians, without any party having a majority that would allow him to decide the issue alone.