Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged the government Monday to halt the judicial overhaul, after opponents of the plan took to the streets overnight following the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (Likud).
“We saw some very difficult scenes last night,” said Herzog Monday morning.
“I turn to the prime minister, the government and the members of the Coalition: The emotions are difficult and painful. Deep anxiety is engulfing the nation. Security, the economy, the society – everything is threatened. The eyes of all the people of Israel are turned to you. The eyes of the entire Jewish people are turned to you.”
“For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of responsibility, I am calling on you to stop legislation immediately. I turn to all the party leaders in the Knesset, coalition and opposition as one, put the citizens of the nation above all else and behave responsibly and bravely without further delay.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held an emergency meeting on the judicial overhaul plan after mass demonstrations broke out throughout Israel.
Netanyahu is expected to deliver a speech to the nation Monday morning.
A number of senior Likud members, including Culture Minister Miki Zohar and Economy Minister Nir Barkat have called on the government to pause the judicial overhaul, while the Religious Zionist and Otzma Yehudit parties are urging the Coalition to move forward with a planned Knesset vote Monday.
The Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is slated to meet at 8:00 a.m. to make the final preparations for the judicial selection law before it heads to the Knesset plenum for its second and third readings.
“We are strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin in not stopping the legislation. The right has no mandate to give up the judicial reform and surrender to violence. The majority of the people supported us so that we can govern,” Otzma Yehudit said in a statement.
Shas and United Torah Judaism have reportedly told Netanyahu they would support a pause should he decide in favor of freezing the reform.