Supreme Court President Esther Hayut met twice at her home with former Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni, who is one of the leaders of the protests against the government’s judicial reform, Channel 12 News revealed on Friday.
According to the report, the first meeting between the two took place the evening before last Saturday night’s demonstration at Habima Square in Tel Aviv, in which Livni was the keynote speaker. The two met for a second time at Hayut's home on Thursday evening.
Livni said in response, "Out of a desire to help and as a former Minister of Justice, I recently initiated conversations with relevant parties, from former Ministers of Justice to the President of the Supreme Court and the President of the State of Israel."
A statement on behalf of Hayut said, "Former Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni approached the President and asked to meet with her. The President believed that her request should not be refused and will meet any past and present Minister of Justice who requests a meeting. Regarding the meeting with Livni - the first meeting was a few weeks ago and not on the eve of the demonstration."
The meetings between the two come amid the backlash that the judicial reform has been met with, and Hayut's strong speech against it last week.
"This is an unbridled attack on the judicial system, as if it were an enemy that must be attacked and subdued. This is a plan to crush the judicial system. It is designed to deal a fatal blow to the independence of the judiciary and turn it into a silent authority," Hayut said.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin later fired back, saying that Hayut’s criticism was proof that his proposes reforms are necessary.
"I am obliged to hold a comprehensive dialogue with the representatives of all sections of the people in order to reach the best and most balanced result. Millions of citizens, and I am among them, are determined to restore the balance between the government's branches and restore trust in the legal system in Israel," he stressed.
(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)
