As Israelis, we have a lot on our plate these days. Amidst all the tumult and division over the first votes on Judicial Reform, the leader of the opposition, MK Lapid, met with PM Netanyahu this afternoon to discuss dramatic nuclear developments in Iran.
Those familiar with the legislative process in Israel know that the wording of laws, especially controversial ones, undergoes significant revision between the first vote and the second and third votes. Furthermore, the wording of laws, especially controversial ones, before the first reading contains space for good faith compromise.
However, many good Israelis, those who would like the law to be passed after compromises are reached, are concerned that what was passed tonight by the Knesset will also be pushed through in the final votes without what they consider necessary improvements.
A "window of opportunity for chaos" opened when judicial reform was first proposed. Returning the law to the committee for revision before the final votes is a milestone on the path to closing this "window".
With the legislative gun "cocked", I sincerely hope that the Knesset opposition leadership will join in earnest to hammer out laws that can enjoy broad acceptance. There is much room for optimism, as evidenced, for example, by the proposed set of legislation for judicial reform prepared privately by a team of top Israeli legal experts, described in legal reporter Dr. Yehuda Yifrach's weekly article in the Makor Rishon newspaper. Dr. Yifrach, the only right-winger in the group, was pleased to report that "I couldn't believe that a document would come out that I could endorse 95 percent of, but the miracle happened... If I were the Minister of Justice or the Chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, this document (with minor adjustments) would be my opening proposal and not the compromise wording after the fact."
Time is of the essence. If the opposition members of the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee refuse to participate in the process, it is still possible for MK Simcha Rothman, the Chairman of the Committee, to lead the revision of the laws as if the opposition were participating. That will show the public whether the opposition is really opposing the proposal or is simply fighting anything a right wing government proposes.
The sooner that the texts of the final compromise versions of the laws are made public, the sooner good Israelis with genuine and legitimate concerns can be reassured that the raucous demonstration nightmare has passed.
Dr. Aaron Lernerand his late father Dr. Joseph Lerner founded the Independent Media Review and Analysis (IMRA) government accredited news organization in 1992,which provides an ongoing analysis of developments in Arab-Israeli relations.