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Supreme Court President Isaac Amit Faces Heckling at October 7 Memorial Amid Ongoing Judicial Reform Conflict
By Drooid · · How we work
Heckling at the October 7 National Memorial Ceremony
During the annual October 7 national memorial ceremony, footage released by Israeli media showed a member of the crowd shouting that Supreme Court President Isaac Amit was “not worthy” of laying a remembrance wreath. Amit proceeded to place the wreath at the Mount Herzl memorial site alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. The incident highlights the heightened hostility directed at the court’s leadership.
Political Conflict Over Judicial Reform
Amit’s appointment in January 2025 and swearing-in the following month occurred against a backdrop of a coalition-driven effort to curb the Supreme Court’s authority. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who unveiled a sweeping judicial overhaul with MK Simcha Rothman in 2023, has publicly refused to cooperate with Amit, stating he would not sign the appointment or work with him in any capacity. In March 2025 the Knesset passed a scaled-back version of the reform, altering the Judicial Selection Committee to increase political involvement in judge appointments. The reforms sparked mass nationwide protests that subsided only after the October 7 massacre.
Official Reactions and Statements
Amit has warned that hostile rhetoric toward judges could lead to physical violence. Speaking at an Israel Bar Association conference in September, he urged restraint as the election campaign intensifies and cited a June riot outside Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg’s home in Alon Shvut, where protesters damaged the house and car while his family was inside. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, on July 13 2026, labeled Amit a “violent, predatory megalomaniac,” further intensifying the public attacks on the judiciary.
Background of Amit’s Appointment and Ongoing Tensions
Amit was selected as Supreme Court President in January 2025 and sworn in at the President’s Residence in February, a ceremony boycotted by Netanyahu, Levin, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, with no government ministers present. The boycott underscored the deep political rift over the court’s role. Since his appointment, Amit has faced personal attacks, including the recent heckling at the memorial ceremony, reflecting the broader societal polarization surrounding Israel’s judicial reform agenda.