Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich launched a frontal attack on Supreme Court justices following the stormy High Court hearing on the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee, singling out President Isaac Amit. Smotrich said democracy belongs to the people, and suggested Amit should declare himself Israel's ruler — as reported by The Zioneer.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich escalated his rhetoric against the judiciary on Sunday, minutes after the conclusion of a stormy High Court hearing on the law changing the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee. In a statement published by The Zioneer, Smotrich personally attacked Supreme Court President Isaac Amit, telling him: "If you want to be the ruler of Israel, maybe declare yourself as such and we'll be done with this charade." He also accused the entire court of attempting to destroy democracy, asserting that "democracy belongs to the people."
Smotrich's remarks follow days of growing coalition anger at the expanded High Court panel, which on Sunday held the first full-panel hearing since the reasonableness-standard debate. Earlier in the day, Justice Amit suggested removing two politicians from the selection panel instead of replacing the Israel Bar Association representatives — a proposal that drew sharp criticism from coalition figures. The hearing also featured testimony from the Justice Minister and coalition leaders who oppose the court's intervention in what they view as a Basic Law amendment.
The confrontation is the latest chapter in the ongoing clash between the coalition and the judiciary over the court's authority to strike down Basic Laws. As The Zioneer reported earlier today, Justice Amit warned that political appointments would reshape the judiciary within 15 years. Smotrich's personal attack on the president marks an escalation from previous institutional criticism to direct confrontation.
4 developments
- DevelopingSmotrich warns High Court: the people are sovereign, do not destroy Israeli democracy
- DevelopingPresident Amit warns of 'regime change' as High Court debates judicial selection reform
- DevelopingCritic slams Chief Justice for unilateral Basic Law veto, calls democracy 'flawed'
- DevelopingIsrael's High Court orders Justice Minister Levin to cooperate with Supreme Court President Amit
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