Full Breakdown
Justice Minister Yariv Levin Ties October 27 Election to Overhaul of Israel’s Supreme Court
By Drooid · · How we work
Election as Pivot for Judicial Overhaul
He argued that a right-wing victory would enable a “fundamentally different” Supreme Court and a broader reshaping of the judiciary, linking the electoral outcome directly to his long-standing reform agenda.
Recent Judicial Conflict and Legislative Changes
The minister’s remarks come amid an ongoing dispute with the judiciary. In June, the High Court of Justice ordered Levin to convene the Judicial Selection Committee and to cooperate with Supreme Court President Isaac Amit on appointments. A separate June ruling required joint involvement on administrative matters. The conflict follows legislation passed in March 2025 that alters the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee beginning with the next Knesset, a change supporters say will make appointments more representative while critics, including Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, warn could erode judicial independence.
Levin’s Claims on Appointments
Levin asserted that roughly one-third of judges appointed across Israel’s courts during the current government’s term were selected under his leadership, yet resistance remains strongest at the Supreme Court level. He highlighted that the court is operating with only 11 of its 15 authorized justices and noted that 79 judges and senior court registrars were sworn in after an 18-month freeze in judicial selections.
Official Statements & Responses
He positioned recent senior security appointments—such as Shin Bet Director David Zini—as evidence that government pressure can reshape institutions he describes as dominated by the political Left. Levin concluded by pledging to continue his campaign for a legal system that balances judges’ responsibilities with the authority of the Knesset and Israeli citizens.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If the Right wins the elections, there will be different Supreme Court justices in the next term, a different judicial system,” — Yariv Levin, justice minister
- “In the upcoming elections, we will be in a situation where two-thirds of the Supreme Court justices are being replaced,” — Yariv Levin, justice minister
- “Unlike my predecessors, I was unwilling to compromise on this point or appoint judges while telling the public that they were conservatives, only for it to turn out that they were not.” — Yariv Levin, justice minister
