Coalition Pulls Trigger On Advancing Elements Of Judicial Overhaul Plan

Leaders of Israel's ruling coalition have emerged from their meeting announcing that they will press ahead with parts of their judicial overhaul plan. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who doubles as head of the far-right Religious Zionism party, told his parliamentary faction that they have "reached a decision to continue the reform."

• Smotrich told his colleagues that he has "instructed" Constitutional, Law and Justice Committee head Simcha Rothman to initiate works on one of the bills as soon as on Wednesday. The bill would end the High Court of Justice’s ability to review government decisions for their reasonableness. Smotrich said that the ball is in the opposition's court when it comes to resuming talks brokered by the President.
• National Security Minister and Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir said at a meeting of his faction that he advised fellow coalition heads to "continue with the reform," adding that "we can't content ourselves with something cosmetic." He also lashed out against yesterday's High Court decision to block the implementation of a bill that would give Ben Gvir unprecedented power over the police.