A major row is taking place in light of accusations that former Supreme Court Justices Prof. Aaron Barak and Prof. Yitzchak Zamir have been urging Labor leader Ehud Barak to enter the coalition government to prevent Daniel Friedman’s appointment as justice minister for a second term.

According to reports, Barak, a former High Court president and Zamir are working to compel Barak to push their agenda, realizing that without Labor in the government, Friedman may continue serving in the justice portfolio. Friedman’s policies are extremely controversial, primarily because he intends to continue working to diminish the absolute control maintained today by the nation’s highest court, with Friedman favoring additional authority in the hands of the legislative branch, a move that is being vehemently opposed by the court.

During his current tenure, Friedman has come under attack, accused of trying to dismantle Israel’s democracy, making him extremely unpopular with the old guard, including Ehud Barak.

Zamir told the press on Tuesday evening that he is indeed a staunch opponent of Friedman’s policies, stressing it is nothing personal – adding he would oppose anyone with the same policies as Friedman. Zamir and his colleague Justice Barak adamantly deny the allegations, insisting they are not at all involved in promoting any political agenda.

Contradicting their statements is Labor MK Shelly Yacimovitz, who insists she knows for a fact that the allegations are indeed true, and Ehud Barak is partially motivated in his desire to join the coalition to act as the agent of the former senior justices.

Senior party official Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer, who is very close to Ehud Barak, responded angrily to Yacimovitz’s statements, stating after 25 years in Knesset and serving as a minister 7 times, he is well-aware of what is taking place and he does not need those “seeking to turn Labor into a second Meretz” in his reference to Yacimovitz.

Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, who is not involved in coalition talks, told Israel Radio on Tuesday that she is pained over the involvement of justices in the political process, calling it a dangerous move that compromises the integrity of Israel’s democratic system.

Livni added when the former justices voice their opinions and apply pressure, is it not just a regular citizen speaking his mind but a voice that carries a considerable amount of weight and by doing so, they are compromising efforts to define the roles of the judicial and legislative branches.

Also commenting was Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, a staunch supporter of Friedman, stating “If Justice Barak has a political bug; he should form a party and run for Knesset…The involvement of the judicial branch in the arena of the legislative branch has exceeded all acceptable levels”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)