Last update - 00:00 28/11/2007
Coalition backs Labor in spat with Friedmann over judicial reform
By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent
The coalition decided Wednesday to vote against Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann's judicial reform bill should he present it as is to the Knesset for approval, in essence backing the Labor faction in its spat with Friedmann over the bill.
Labor faction whip Eitan Cabel said Wednesday his party would cut off contact with the coalition, should a Knesset plenum vote be held later in the day on the bill.
The Knesset approved in a first reading last week two of Friedmann's bills, including one that would allow court panels consisting of fewer than three judges to rule on cases.
Due to Cabel's opposition, Friedmann has twice been force to delay a vote on a bill that would create new courts, in order to facilitate the establishment of a district court in Petah Tikva. The bill would also allow the justice minister to transfer cases between courts according to the issues they address, and to determine with category of cases will be handled by each court. Critics say it is dangerous to grant a political figure such extensive authority.
In a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Friedmann, and Coalition Chairman Eli Aflalo, Cabel wrote, "Several weeks ago I announced that, as far as the Labor faction is concerned, bringing this bill for approval violates the coalition guidelines, which say 'the supreme standing of the Israeli justice system will be protected."
Cabel said he had tried to reach an agreement with the justice minister in recent weeks, but accused Friedmann of refusing to compromise.
The bill was approved by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation, which obligates the Labor Party to support it. Cabel said that Labor ministers apparently were unaware of the problematic nature of the bill, and asked Vice Premier Haim Ramon to hold a Knesset plenum discussion on the Labor ministers' mistaken votes. Ramon, however, refused to do so.
"Therefore," wrote Cabel, "I have informed Coalition Chairman Aflalo that should the bill be on the Knesset agenda, I will instruct Labor faction members to cut of contact with the coalition until further notice."
The step would mean that votes cast by Labor Party MKs in both the Knesset plenum and committees would not necessarily be in accordance with coalition decisions.