MK David Bitan (Likud), chairman of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, was interviewed by Channel 12 News on Saturday night and called for a compromise on the government’s proposed judicial reform.
"We can't go on like this anymore," warned Bitan. "We have already been seriously harmed and if the prophecies come true, our situation will be very, very bad, we will not be able to go back."
He spoke about the disconnect between him and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "In the last two months I have barely been talking to him, we say hello to one another - nothing more than that."
"The reason the Likud is falling in the polls is very clear," explained Bitan. "Those who do not support the reform are leaving the Likud for Gantz, and on the other hand those who support the reform are disappointed that it is not promoted and say they will not vote for us."
Bitan also was not enthusiastic about the demonstration of support for the reform that took place this past Thursday in Jerusalem. "It provides a tailwind to the continuation of the protests when we need to reach a compromise," he claimed.
Despite his criticism, Bitan made it clear that he would not vote against the Likud's position.
"The Likud's Knesset members, and I am among them, will go with the Likud. But I expect Netanyahu and the Minister of Justice to look at what is happening and understand that the Likud has been seriously harmed."
Bitan said that there is no precedent for the relationship between the Prime Minister and Justice Minister Yariv Levin. "Would it be conceivable that Netanyahu would negotiate with Levin on the reform? Netanyahu needs to show leadership, do the work he needs to do. If Yariv Levin doesn't like it, then the door is open for him to go in all kinds of directions."
Bitan has been critical of Netanyahu in recent months. In March, he called to stop the legislation of the judicial reform in order to negotiate with the opposition.
"In my opinion, the legislation can be stopped for the simple reason - we have waited long enough for change, nothing will happen if we wait another two or three months," Bitan said.
He added that at least five members of the Likud Party are in favor of stopping the legislative process.
Previously, Bitan criticized Netanyahu’s conduct in the formation of the government, after many members of the Likud were not appointed to senior ministerial positions, which were handed out to other parties which joined the coalition.
"Netanyahu did not set a red line. He made a mistake, it is clear to him today that he made a mistake," Bitan told Channel 12 News in late December.