Naftali Bennett
Naftali BennettNoam Revkin Fenton/Flash90

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett spoke out for the first time Monday on Justice Minister Yariv Levin's proposed judicial reforms.

"It's no secret that I believe that for generations the judicial system has assumed excessive powers, and blocked any attempt at correction. I believe that certain changes are required in the judicial system and in recent years we have even promoted some of them," Bennett said.

"But you don't correct a historical distortion with another distortion. There is no escape: both sides must speak immediately," he said.

"The opposition must understand: the public elected the government, it has a mandate to make changes, there will be changes, and that's a good thing.

"The government must understand: they must not go to the opposite extreme of losing the checks and balances, neutering the judicial system and transferring the appointment of all Israeli judges to the Prime Minister alone, as has been proposed.

"The full current proposal, as it currently stands, is dangerous. It will harm the foundations of the State of Israel, its economy and its citizens, and it may tear the cord that connects us all. That's why it needs to be fixed.

"There is only one solution: to sit together, talk, and reach the right change. To be honest, the formula is not very complicated, if only both parties come with a little goodwill. We are all brothers," Bennett concluded.