Ex-chief justice calls on MKs, ministers to oppose Friedmann's reforms - Haaretz

Subscribe to Print Edition

Thu., January 24, 2008 Shvat 17, 5768

Israel Time: 17:25 (EST+7)

web haaretz.com

Back to Homepage

Rosner's Domain

Diplomacy

Defense

Jewish World

Opinion

National

Print Edition

Advertising

Books

Arts & Leisure

Business

Real Estate

Easy Start

Travel

Week's End

Anglo File



		Aharon Barak, former president of the Supreme Court. (Limor Edrey)

Last update - 21:28 23/01/2008

Ex-chief justice calls on MKs, ministers to oppose Friedmann's reforms

By Yuval Yoaz, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Justice Minister, Israel

Aharon Barak, the former president of the Supreme Court, called on MKs and ministers Wednesday evening to vote against Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann's planned judicial reforms.

"I say to the leaders of the state: Don't lend a hand to proposals that will change the expressed purpose of the legal establishment," Barak said in an address to the eighth annual Herzliya Conference of the Institute for Policy and Strategy.

Friedmann has come under fire from key members of the judiciary over his efforts to draft a bill that would restrict the Supreme Court from ruling on political, security and budget matters, as well his plans to alter the selection committee for Supreme Court justices.

	Advertisement

Barak called on government ministers and MKs who until now have not announced their positions to express opposition to Friedmann's initiatives.

The former Supreme Court president declared: "Abstention from the defense of the judiciary is an attack on it. Preserve the method for selecting judges in Israel, so political and factional considerations do not grow in strength, and so we do not become a third world country."

Barak, speaking with emotion, added that: "I observe our achievements in the field of law and judgment in the state's sixty years and my heart is filled with worry for the future."

While Barak criticized the justice minister's initiative, he did not mention Friedman by name in his speech, which was titled "sixty years of judgment in Israel." He said he was aware of the need for changes, "but the necessary changes are not the changes proposed at present. Neither a professional discussion nor a minimal public debate preceded these proposed changes, the results of which will be a severe blow to the values upon which our democracy is founded."

Related articles:

Barak: Friedmann's proposals will deliver blow to judicial system

Friedmann slams Knesset lobbying by former Supreme Court justices

'Attack the court, save the country'

Bookmark to del.icio.us


	The father of the victim
	Father of terror victim slams Olmert for letting PA try the killers.


	And you're out
	German hip-hop artist thrown off reality show over Hitler salute.




1.	A Barak himself tried to uptilt the H.Court when it went against	23:22	\|	Absolute Sweden	23/01/08

2.	bARAK ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT BENEFITS	23:52	\|	jFROMc	23/01/08

3.	Support Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann`s judicial reforms.	00:17	\|	Joseph E .	24/01/08

4.	For the Future Of Israel...	02:02	\|	Yahsra Ohion	24/01/08

5.	Barak & his friends	16:53	\|	Ulf	24/01/08

6.	The judicial election should not be a political affair	16:58	\|	Ulf	24/01/08

Today Online


	High Court of Justice to hold urgent hearing on Gaza blockade
	Responses: 238


	Gaza source: Hamas planned border wall blast for months
	Responses: 132


	Canada to skip UN racism meet due to 'anti-Semitism'
	Responses: 132


	Yossi Beilin: Here's to Prime Minister Livni, Foreign Min. Olmert
	Responses: 16


	Rami Livni: Bi-national state would only perpetuate suffering
	Responses: 21

Rosner's Domain

McCain's letter on Gaza: Israel has the right to defend itself (WTR)

Who's better for Israel, Clinton or McCain?

New poll: How important is Israel in the 2008 election?

Domain's Guest: "all Jews are responsible for one another"

Actor Jon Voight: Every Jew must vote for Giuliani (WTR)

More Headlines
16:01 PM completely freezes new construction in West Bank settlements


16:46 Arab League chief: Israeli policy is destroying peace process


15:41 Egypt rejects idea of Israel waiving responsibility for Gaza


17:24 Dichter tells police to ratchet up security on Egyptian border


15:48 RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE: Obama backs Israel to UN


17:21 AG: Bedouin buildings can be destroyed only with Justice Min. approval


05:52 Canada to skip UN racism conference due to expected 'anti-Semitism'


14:15 Burns, in Israel, says new Iran resolution will be punitive


15:30 UN rights council slams Israel's 'grave violations' in Gaza Strip


15:36 Palestinian forces enter Jordan for training under U.S. program