Herzog pushes for talks to begin on judicial overhaul compromise

President says spoke with prime minister and opposition leaders after Netanyahu announces temporary halt to legislation; says will represent civil society concerns
Amid the judicial overhaul that has plagued the nation and reached a boiling point in the last few days, President Isaac Herzog called on both sides to establish working teams to reach an agreement through dialogue.
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Herzog spoke on Monday evening with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Head of Opposition Yair Lapid, and Leader of the National Unity Party MK Benny Gantz.
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נשיא המדינה יצחק הרצוג מציג את ׳מתווה העם׳ לשינויים במערכת המשפט
נשיא המדינה יצחק הרצוג מציג את ׳מתווה העם׳ לשינויים במערכת המשפט
President Isaac Herzog
(Photo: GPO)
The president said his efforts would continue to represent the concerns of civic groups and different Knesset factions in the compromise solution.
In his statement on Monday night, Netanyahu announced he would stall his controversial legislation for a few months.
"When there is an opportunity for talks - I, as the prime minister, take a time out for talks," Netanyahu said. "We insist on the need to bring about the necessary amendments in the judicial system, and we will give an opportunity to settle them with a broad consensus - this is a worthwhile goal like no other.
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בנימין נתניהו
בנימין נתניהו
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photo: GPO)
"Therefore, out of national responsibility, out of the desire to prevent a rift in the nation, I decided to suspend the second and third readings of the law in this session of the Knesset, to give time to reach the same broad agreement on the legislation during the next Knesset."
Shortly after Netanyahu's address to the nation, National Unity chief Benny Gantz and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid both gave separate statements in which they said they were open to talks.
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הצהרת ראשי האופוזיציה
הצהרת ראשי האופוזיציה
Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid
(Photo: Reuters)
Gantz also spoke with Netanyahu later on Monday, and called on him not to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, following the prime minister's announcement to do so on Sunday evening. Gantz stated that this is "essential to the national security."
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