Netanyahu prevails as rightist MKs tapped for key judiciary panel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scored a political victory on Monday after his preferred choices for a seat on the Judicial Appointment Committee prevailed in a secret parliamentary ballot.

MK David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu), who heads the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, bested MK Eitan Cabel, the Labor Party's former secretary-general, for the coalition MK's spot on the committee.

In a surprise development, National Union MK Uri Ariel defeated Kadima MK Roni Bar-On. Netanyahu thus succeeded in arranging a rightist majority on the panel.

Several leading Likud MKs, including Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin and Minister Michael Eitan, supported Bar-On, who represents the largest opposition party, over Ariel. Bar-On was elected several weeks ago as Kadima's choice for the committee, and recent Knesset practice has it that the representative of the largest opposition party is the one who represents the opposition as a whole.

Bar-On was widely expected to win the position.

Cabel said it was clear that an attempt was underway to create a committee aimed at limiting the Supreme Court, adding that he was optimistic about his chances of being elected.

Meanwhile, the cabinet on Sunday approved Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan's appointment to the committee. He promised to promote "professionalism and efficiency in the judicial system."