Minister of Justice Ayelet Shaked participated in the “Legal and Government Consultations” Conference of the Kohelet Forum on Tuesday, referring to the struggle of the left against settlement in Yehuda and Shomron via the nation’s High Court of Justice.

“The future of settlement in Yehuda and Shomron will not be determined by the High Court of Justice. The hundreds of petitions filed annually, mostly provocative, constitute legal warfare against government policy, “Shaked said.

“While the left is unable to win the elections, the leftist organizations are trying to create facts on the ground and drag the High Court into the political field, and we will not permit this to occur. The current administration is working to strengthen settlement in Yehuda and Shomron”.

Shaked also referred to reports that senior officials in the State Prosecutor’s Office are angry about the right-wing policy that Shaked controls in the Justice Ministry and influence the state’s responses to the High Court of Justice regarding settlement.

“The State Attorney’s Office represents the state and not his/her personal position, certainly in a matter that is at the core of the government’s actions,” Shaked clarified.

In addition, Minister Shaked announced that she intends to bring to the Knesset Ministerial Legislation Committee next Sunday a bill to change the way of choosing legal advisors to government ministries, so that instead of a tender in which the minister has no ability to influence the legal advisor’s identity, the minister would have a say since the post is too important to appoint without permitting a cabinet minister a say in the selection. She explains the legal advisor is critical to the running of a ministry and therefore, the minister must be on board too.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)