The bill, which was initiated by MKs Yariv Levin and Ze'ev Elkin (Likud), will be debated at the Ministerial Committee for Legislation next week. It was supposed to be debated today (Sunday) but the controversy around it caused the discussion to be postponed by one week.
Hershkovitz is believed to be referring to Ministers Gideon Sa'ar, Michael Eitan, Dan Meridor and Benny Begin, who opposed the vetting of judges. Min. Sa'ar said Sunday that the bill would take away the unlimited authority to appoint judges from the Committee for Appointment of Judges and give it to the Knesset's Law, Constitution and Justice Committee.
Proponents of the bill say that the United States Senate vets Supreme Court Justice nominees and it, too, is a political body.
Education Minister Sa'ar was aide to Dorit Beinisch and Edna Arbel -- now both Supreme Court judges -- at the beginning of his law career. He is also considered very close to MK Shelly Yechimovich, who heads the Labor party. Beinisch, Arbel and Yechimovich are described by seasoned observers as very close friends who toe the same leftist and militant feminist line.