Today, Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Religious Zionism party, Bezalel Smotrich, addressed the judicial reform during his party's preparatory conference for the local elections. Smotrich made this statement following reports of advanced negotiations for a compromise at the President's Residence and after the Prime Minister clarified that all efforts are being made to reach an agreed-upon framework.
Smotrich began by saying, "Today, I had a conversation with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The Prime Minister updated me on the efforts he is leading, along with the President and other parties, to reach broad agreements that will bring about a calming of tensions and strengthen unity among the people of Israel."
"I commend the sincere and genuine effort of the Prime Minister to reach broad agreements, and I believe that opposition leaders should also free themselves from the extreme and anarchist elements led by Shikma Bressler, who just this week called me and my colleagues Nazis, may their name and memory be erased, and they should demonstrate a genuine willingness for compromises and reconciliation to achieve unity."
"We strongly oppose ultimatums and the imposition of dictates from those who lost in the elections"
The Minister of Finance added and clarified: "I told the Prime Minister that we are ready for dialogue and comprehensive agreements, including concessions, in order to achieve unity among the people, to preserve a united and strong IDF, and to keep Israeli society whole. However, at the same time, we strongly oppose dictates and receiving ultimatums from those who lost in the elections, did not earn the trust of the people, and are trying to impose their position on us through threats of refusal and compromising the security of the country."
Furthermore, he added and emphasized: "Under no circumstances will we agree to give up diversity in the selection of judges so that they can represent all segments of the population in the State of Israel. We will not agree to a situation where the opposition that lost in the elections can manipulate and overpower the right in the committee for the selection of judges."
"I hope we will succeed in leading to dialogue and agreements"
In summary, Smotrich said, "We are making great efforts to lead to genuine dialogue, but unfortunately, I see how, in parallel, Lapid and Gantz, who have disrupted the discussions in the President's Residence, prevent any possibility of dialogue. They do not want agreements; they want to get a hundred percent of their dictates, and we will not allow that. It is anti-democratic trampling against the right-wing camp, which has the trust of the majority of the people. Yes to dialogue and agreements, no to dictates and trampling against the right that won in the elections.
"This is our position, and I truly and sincerely hope that we can lead to dialogue and agreements because it is the national interest at the doorstep of the new year."