Bayit Yehudi Chairman Naftali Bennet launched an attack against Israel’s High Court of Justice in his address on Monday to the special Knesset session marking the beginning of the winter session. Bennet accuses Israel’s High Court of Justice of being the self-declared keeper of democracy by disqualifying laws passed by legislators in the Knesset. Bennet made his remarks during Monday’s special session marking the opening of the Knesset winter session.

He expressed a commitment to continue legislation that will place the power back to the people, namely the Knesset, hoping to bring an end to the situation that occurs so often, in which the High Court disqualifies laws passed by legislators.

President Reuven Rivlin used the special session to express criticism against the Netanyahu-led coalition government. President Rivlin feels the current Likud-led administration has challenged the High Court, which he refers to as the “gatekeeper of democracy”, speaking against the judicial reforms implemented by Justice Minister (Bayit Yehudi) Ayelet Shaked. On the other hand, he was also critical of the sweeping judicial reforms seen during the tenure of Chief Justice Aharon Barak, who has since retired.

Bouncing back on Tuesday, 4 Cheshvan, Bennett was critical of President Rivlin’s criticism against the current administration and the judicial reforms. He did however agree with the president’s criticism of Barak, who introduced a new era of ultra-liberalism, which continues to date.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)