Minister of Regional Cooperation Dudi Amsalem (Likud) attacked former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak and current Supreme Court President Esther Hayut during an interview with Israel's Meet the Press, claiming the former should be tried for a "coup attempt in the state of Israel."
"I am fighting for democracy," he claimed. "Today, there is no democracy in the state of Israel."
Amsalem accused Hayut of giving an address against the government's judicial reform, in which she warned that democracy would be harmed if it were to pass as Justice Minister Levin proposed it. "I don't know of any supreme court president in the world who has an air force, special forces, cyber forces," stated Amsalem, referring to the different anti-reform protest groups. He then added: "We have to create an inquiry board. It will happen, even if it isn't today."
Amsalem claimed that "this state is controlled by an elitist minority from Tel Aviv, which crossed all boundaries." Adding: "Within the Likud, there are people we couldn't pass the reform with at the moment. Therefore it will be passed later. Why? The state of Israel is not a democratic state. Netanyahu is making a tactical step that was needed."