The Jewish Home Chairman, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, tried to lower the flames of acrimony between the Supreme Court and MK Moti Yogev of Jewish Home, following the court’s decision last week to postpone demolition of terrorists’ homes.
“Recently, there has been growing criticism by parts of the nation and by politicians from my camp as well, of the Supreme Court,” he said in a speech at the Education Ministry’s Conference for Youth Movements.
“Criticism is a legitimate thing, and I also have quite a bit of criticism of the court system, but we mustn’t let people from among us spill the baby with the bathwater,” he continued.
“The court is not the enemy of the people,” Bennett clarified. “Even if we have a bitter dispute over the identity of the country, we are all on one side, the same side.”
Also Sunday evening, MK Yogev slammed Michael Spitzer, Director of the Israel’s Courts, over a letter he sent to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, asking the latter to sanction Yogev for his criticism of the High Court’s decision to hold off on demolition of terrorists’ homes. Spitzer’s criticism, said Yogev, is “another example of judicial activism, which continues to harm the security of Israelis.”
Earlier, Spitzer sent a letter Sunday to Edelstein demanding that disciplinary action be taken against Yogev. What set Spitzer off was a Facebook message in which Yogev wrote that the High Court judges – particularly Uzi Fogelman, who handed down the decision – “has put himself on the side of the enemy. He is protecting the rights of murderers, and prevents the state from imposing a punishment that will prevent terror. He is thus endangering people’s lives.”
In his letter, Spitzer said that Yogev “has gone too far, inciting against a judge. Such comments, especially at this time, could lead to violence against the judge. All we have to do is look around and we will find many examples of this.
Reports Sunday night said that Fogelman was being provided with round-the-clock protection, due to fears that right-wing activists angry with his decision to halt the demolitions might take action against him.
