Yariv Levin and Yitzhak Amit set aside deep divisions to address Israel’s looming judicial crisis as dozens of judges prepare to retire.
In a rare show of cooperation amid a well-publicized feud, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit are now engaged in high-stakes talks over appointing new judges to Israel’s Magistrate and District Courts, Kan Reshet Bet revealed Monday morning.
The discussions come at a critical moment: nearly 50 judicial seats are already vacant, and dozens more will open as judges retire — some earlier than planned. By year’s end, Israel’s court system is bracing for another wave of departures, threatening to deepen an already severe backlog in cases nationwide.
Sources say Levin has held a series of work meetings with Judge Tzahi Ouziel, Director of the Courts, in recent days. The goal: hammer out agreements and secure consensus on judicial appointments before the crisis reaches breaking point.
While the political and ideological gulf between Levin and Amit remains wide, the urgency of the situation is forcing both sides to find common ground — if only to keep Israel’s justice system from grinding to a halt.
