Ex-justices 'concerned' by Beinisch, Friedmann hostility - Haaretz

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Wed., August 08, 2007 Av 24, 5767

Israel Time: 01:56 (EST+7)

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Ex-justices 'concerned' by Beinisch, Friedmann hostility

By Jonathan Lis

Two former Supreme Court presidents, Aharon Barak and Meir Shamgar, met with Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann last night at their own request to discuss the growing hostility between the minister and Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch.

Both sides agreed not to publish the details of the conversation, which took place at Friedmann's home in Tel Aviv, and they did not issue a statement to the press. But sources familiar with the content of the talks told Haaretz that the former court presidents voiced their unhappiness over the Friedmann-Beinisch conflict, and particularly the grating tones adopted by both principals.

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They also voiced their objections to some of Friedmann's proposals for reforming the justice system, mainly those that would reduce the Supreme Court president's powers.

However, the sources said, the conversation remained friendly, thanks to the longstanding friendship between Barak and Friedmann and to Friedmann's great respect for both his interlocutors.

Sources close to Friedmann declined to discuss the meeting, but stressed that the minister has never attacked Beinisch personally since his appointment; he has merely tried to advance reforms in which he believes.

Friedmann's refusal

Barak Ravid adds:

Meanwhile, Friedmann has also sparked a diplomatic mini-crisis between Israel and Italy, due to his refusal to meet his Italian counterpart, who will arrive in a few days, somewhere other than the Justice Ministry, which is located in East Jerusalem. Friedmann said that moving the meeting elsewhere would offend Israeli sovereignty.

The Italian minister, Clemente Mastella, says that European Union policy forbids him to attend meetings at Israeli government offices in East Jerusalem.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry is trying to broker a compromise that would enable the meeting to take place, arguing that Mastella is a supporter of Israel and should therefore be accommodated.

"Friedmann may be right, but his opposition is certainly not wise," one government official said. "Canceling the meeting with the Italian could affect his positions on Israel."

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