Just before his planned statement to the media, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reached out this evening (Tuesday) to the leader of the Blue and White camp, Benny Gantz, calling for discussions regarding a compromise on judicial reform. This comes in response to reports of contacts and a proposal to delay the coalition and presidential standoff.
"I want to address Benny Gantz," Netanyahu said. "Between us, there are many disagreements, but there is also a lot in common. Both of us are named Binyamin. Both of us fought on the battlefield against a common enemy. And today, the majority of the people expect us to do something for a common goal. He wants us to reach an agreement."
"But in order to reach an agreement, one simple thing needs to be done: set aside all the preconditions, all the obstacles, enter the room, and talk," he added. "So, tomorrow morning, I invite your team to sit down with our team, and let's do what the majority of the Israeli people expect from us: sit down and reach an agreement."
As mentioned, it was reported last night that the coalition offered to leave the committee for selecting judges intact as it is and only make a change in the required majority for selecting judges, raising it from 7 to 9, not only for the Supreme Court justices but for judges at all levels. It was also said that within the framework of the plan, the legislation would be frozen for a year and a half, and changes would be made to the law to reduce the burden of proof, which has already passed definitively.
However, the Likud denied the reports and stated: "The reports are not true, and there has been no agreement." The religious Zionist parties and the Jewish Power party also clarified that they would oppose the proposal if it were to arise.