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Opposition leader accuses coalition of wanting to ‘tear apart the state, tear apart democracy,’ says there is ‘no way to work with them.’

Opposition leader Yair Lapid blamed the coalition for the failure to reach a compromise on the judicial reform issue ahead of the final vote on the ‘Reasonableness Standard’ bill Monday afternoon.

“In recent weeks, and especially in the past 48 hours, we did everything possible to reach agreements, as promised,” Lapid told reporters at the Knesset. “Our main condition was to protect Israeli democracy, but with this government, it is impossible to reach agreements that preserve Israeli democracy.”

“They want to tear apart the state, tear apart democracy, tear apart the security of Israel, the unity of the people of Israel, and our international relations,” he continued. “There is no way to continue to work with them — because this is the most irresponsible government there has ever been here.”

“And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.” Daniel 2:21

Sources in the Yesh Atid party told Channel 12 News that the two sides were close to an agreement on a compromise, but the Lkud part refused to formalize the amount of time the judicial reform legislation would be frozen, leading to the collapse of the talks.

The reasonableness standard allows Supreme Court judges to strike down government actions not on the basis of a legal or constitutional violation, but on the subjective assumption that no “reasonable” government would engage in such actions.

The bill being voted on would bar the court from applying the standard to actions taken by the prime minister, the cabinet, or any individual minister. Prime Minister Netanyahu has reportedly been considering a softened version of the bill which would allow the court to continue to use the reasonableness standard to strike down actions by specific ministers.

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