Yariv Levin is a senior Israeli lawmaker in the Likud Party and currently serves as the country's justice minister and deputy prime minister. He previously served as Knesset speaker, aliyah and integration minister, tourism minister, and public security minister.
A longtime member of the Likud, Levin's influence in Israeli politics skyrocketed in 2023 when he announced a wide-ranging overhaul of the country's judicial system. Created and spearheaded by both himself and MK Simcha Rothman, judicial reform was highly controversial and sparked massive nationwide protests for months on end, interrupted only by the October 7 massacre and Israel's subsequent war against Hamas.
The incoming president of the Supreme Court could raise the flag of compromise in the form of the victor’s outstretched hand and allow Levin’s candidate to be appointed to the court.
According to the polling, in a scenario where a party led by Bennett runs in the elections, the Bennet-led opposition bloc would secure a majority of 66 seats.
Since May 2024, the position of Ombudsman of the Judiciary has remained vacant.
Levin is now expected to try to push through one of the key planks of his judicial reform -- changes in how the court is selected.
The new proposal also includes a mechanism to prevent a stalemate in high court appointments.
"This is a sad day for democracy and a sad day for our judicial system," the justice minister said in a statement.
The Judicial Selection Committee convenes to appoint Israel's new chief justice.
Earlier on Friday, Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara penned a letter to Levin, calling on him to convene the committee.
The new bill is based on a joint proposal by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and is expected to pass into law by the end of February.
The AG wrote that it was not clear why Levin waited until the days before the deadline to air the allegations, some of which arose already in 2023.
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