The World Mizrachi movement, a religious Zionist organization founded in 1902, issued a statement Thursday in support of Israeli President Isaac Herzog's efforts to mediate a negotiated compromise on the government's planned judicial reforms.
"The World Mizrachi movement supports the bold and critical efforts of President Herzog to bring about dialogue in resolving the issues around the proposed judicial reforms," the organization said in a statement.
"We are deeply alarmed and concerned by the divisiveness and vitriolic tone surrounding the proposed reforms.
"As the President has mentioned, there is definitely a need for judicial reform in terms of creating a fair and reasonable balance of power between the Government and the Judiciary. At the same time, we echo his great concern for the antagonism and animosity being voiced. Indeed, issues of such significant changes ought to be achieved by broad consensus.
"Over the last 30 years, far reaching controversial changes were made by the Government such as the Oslo Accords and Disengagement from Gaza. These changes were done with the thinnest of majorities and in a way where around half the citizens of Israel were forced into something they saw as catastrophic. For many, calls for a broader consensus were ignored and terrible consequences are still being felt. Past actions need to be learned from to ensure that positive and sustainable change can take place in a way that the internal fabric of Israel is strengthened and not, G-d forbid, threatened.
"World Mizrachi supports the call to engage in openhearted dialogue in order find a constructive way forward. Too much depends on it," the movement's statement concluded.