Coalition And Opposition Trade Accusations Over Judicial Overhaul Collapse

Leaders of Israel's ruling coalition claimed that the collapse of negotiations over its judicial overhaul plan was the opposition's fault as they vowed to restart works on some of the controversial reforms, setting the scene for heightened political tensions in the weeks ahead. Speaking in 103FM radio this morning, opposition leader Yair Lapid denied these accusations and said that the opposition never said it wanted to stop the negotiations, but there was no point in further talks after the coalition broke its commitment to freeze its contentious legislation.

• Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticised President Isaac Herzog, who had brought coalition and opposition representatives to the negotiating table. Smotrich said that the President is "100 percent aligned with the left" and cannot be trusted as a fair mediator, adding that the decision to take the debate on judicial overhaul out of the Knesset was "undemocratic." His comments are another indication of growing pressure from coalition hardliners to go ahead with the judicial overhaul.
• The coalition remains internally fractured, with United Torah Judaism (UTJ) said that they would not vote with the coalition until their funding demands are met. Without the seven lawmakers from the UTJ, the 64-strong coalition looses its simple majority in the Knesset and cannot pass legislation. This is not the first time Prime Minister Netanyahu's far-right allies issue such ultimatums, as Otzma Yehudit announced a temporary boycott of Knesset votes last month.
• Meanwhile, eyes are on the Israeli Bar Association's four-way leadership election today. The polls have already opened, with the two front-runners trading barbs in local media, with the outcome believed to be consequential for the dynamics behind Israel's judicial overhaul.