Former Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who has left political life but is said to be planning a comeback, criticized Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked's proposed reforms to the way Supreme Court Justices are chosen in an interview with Army Radio Tuesday.
Justices are picked by a committee of 9, 3 of whom are Supreme Court Justices and 2 members of the Israel Bar Association who are thought to be careful not to antagonize the justices before whom they have to appear. Under a law enacted by Sa'ar in 2008, appointees must be approved by a special majority of 7 out of 9 committee members, or 2 less than the number of committee members present. This system has given the 3 Supreme Court Justices an effective veto power over candidates they do not like. Israelis often call the system "a friend brings a friend." Shaked's new reform would allow for appointees to be approved by a simple majority of 5 votes to 4 votes.
Sa'ar is against this change.
"It is fine to want right-wing judges." Sa'ar said. "At the time we introduced this law, we were in the opposition, but the law was supported by all but the extreme left."
Sa'ar believes that Shaked's reforms will backfire in the end. "This law goes against the interests of the right."
"You can’t change the basic rules, based on today’s environment." Sa'ar explained. "Today the right has the majority, but what about tomorrow?"