
President Isaac Herzog delivered an address to the nation on Thursday evening on his efforts to mediate a compromise on the government’s planned judicial reforms, during which he called on the coalition to end its efforts to pass the reforms in their current form.
“The set of legislation that is being discussed now needs to be removed from the world, it is wrong, predatory and undermines our democratic foundations,” Herzog said.
- “The sights we saw this day are a nightmare for the country. Enough. I can no longer see our nation being torn apart before my eyes. What is happening here is a disaster. Citizens of Israel – I work for you, for you, and only for you. I see the sights and hear the the cries that are addressed to me and have one purpose – do everything to make it stop. Do everything to find a solution. I accept with love every harsh and painful criticism, however difficult and painful it may be/ But to be clear, I am not giving up. I will pay any price to find a solution, and on the condition that it happens now. Because we don’t have time,” he declared.
He added that
- “I’ve been working around the clock for ten weeks now. I meet everyone, even those who don’t agree with me, even those who don’t agree to admit [that they are meeting me]; I harness everyone, even those who are afraid to take responsibility. I am doing everything I canto preserve Israeli society, everything I can to preserve Israeli democracy.”
According to him, an outline on judicial reform which has broad consensus can be reached soon.
- “Don’t believe anyone who speaks on my behalf. When there is a presidential outline – you will hear it in my voice, and in my voice alone. I can say the following right now: I managed to bring about a situation where the gaps were greatly reduced. There is agreement on most issues. True, not on everything, but on the absolute majority. It is certainly enough to abandon the legislation currently being proposed, and to bring in its place to the Knesset’s Law and Justice Committee discussions a different, agreed-upon outline. There is an infrastructure here for a quick conclusion in which the only winners are the State of Israel and its citizens. The set of legislation currently being discussed in the committee needs to be removed from the world and quickly. It is wrong, it is destructive, it undermines our democratic foundations. Therefore, it must be replaced with another, agreed-upon outline, and immediately.”
Addressing the coalition, Herzog said: “If you choose to continue on the path you’ve followed so far – the chaos is on your hands. History will judge you. Take responsibility and do it now.”
Source: Arutz Sheva