Ilan Geal Dor, CEO of the Gesher organization, lauded President Isaac Herzog Sunday night, praising Herzog’s call for unity and compromise on the judicial reform plan.
"At a time when it seems that the ground is burning under our feet and the incitement and tension are increasing, on the part of both camps, the President placed himself tonight as the bridge connecting the two sides.”
“It was possible to feel for a moment as if there was an ‘adult in the room’ in the State of Israel, after a long period of feeling out of control on all sides. In his speech this evening, he reminded us all of the importance of the role of the President of the State of Israel as a figure whose role is to connect and unite all parts of the people without regard to political positions.”
“We hope that from the President's important speech tonight, we will now embark on a hopeful path of dialogue - a path ultimately leading to the most correct decisions for the people of Israel. Decisions that will be accepted with broad agreement while safeguarding the values and interests of all populations in Israeli society. Let’s break down the barriers and build the bridges.”
“We at Gesher are at your disposal, Mr. President, and we will do everything in our power to help with the overarching goal of maintaining the unity of Israel."
In his televised address Sunday evening, Herzog called on the Netanyahu government not to move forward with its plans to bring part of the reform plan to a vote in the Knesset committee Monday, thus delaying the expected Knesset plenum vote Wednesday.
Instead, Herzog urged the government to work towards reaching a compromise with the Opposition, enabling passage of a more moderate reform plan.
Herzog warned that Israel is “on the verge of a constitutional and social collapse.”
“We are on the verge of civil violence. And in extreme situations like this, like some of my predecessors, I refuse to stand idly by.”