MK Moshe Arbel of Shas, an attorney by profession, led the charge to overturn the decision prohibiting the Moti Steinmetz concert with separate seating in Afula.

After the High Court of Justice on Wednesday evening overturned the Nazareth District Court decision permitting the separate seating event, the Shas MK referred to the High Court justice in an interview with Kikar Shabbos News as “The enlightened white (ashkenazi) judges”.

He told Kikar News “There is no doubt there were brilliant moves here. There was a significant preliminary move here. Certainly, we have taken the fact they will appeal to the High Court into consideration, and we are confident we will get relief [from the court]”.

Arbel feels “At the end, it will be a system of basic trust. We do however criticize the judicial system and it is permitted to do so but one should not freak out”.

Arbel then went on the offensive: A minority (sephardi) judge can identify with the plight of the chareidim while the judges from the white enlightened tribe, a bit less”.

Kikar News: Is it time to appoint a chareidi to the High Court bench?
The matter at hand is indeed complicated and not something for hallway discussion, demanding much thought. It is truly a question if a chareidi individual may rule not in line with halacha, and these are questions that must be presented to Gedolei Yisrael. This demands thought.

Do you see yourself serving as a judge?
It was presented to me by former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, and I said at the moment that I sit on a judge’s chair I am not chareidi.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)