Israel Supreme Court Appointments: Levin's Reshaping Plan

Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin was recorded in a closed-door conversation with Likud party activists, revealing his strategy to alter the composition of Israel's Supreme Court during the next government term. The recordings were first published Wednesday by journalist Yaara Shapira on Kan News' Reshet Bet radio station.

During the conversation, Levin recounted a discussion he had approximately 18 months ago with one of the Supreme Court justices. According to Levin, the judge made clear that if he continued insisting on appointing Dr. Aviad Bakshi and Dr. Rafi Biton, two controversial judicial candidates, the sitting justices would simply wait until a different justice minister took office.

"And I told him, and I tell the justices all the time: I believe we will win. We will wait for the next term," Levin is heard saying in the recording.

The justice minister explained that his plan relies on a significant portion of Supreme Court justices retiring during the next government's tenure. According to Levin, this turnover in the court's composition would enable him to advance a series of appointments without needing to complete the judicial overhaul legislation in its current form.

"In the next term, two-thirds of the Supreme Court justices will vacate their positions," Levin stated. He then addressed the justices directly, adding: "We won't even need a reform anymore, you will simply disappear, and you won't have a choice."

Levin also detailed the nature of the appointments he intends to advance: "You will get Dr. Bakshi and Dr. Biton, and a series of such appointments that will change the court from its foundation."

Six additional justices are expected to retire from the Supreme Court during the next government's term. Based on the statements presented, the next justice minister could potentially lead the appointment of ten justices in total, a number representing approximately two-thirds of the court's composition.

The recording suggests that Levin does not intend to abandon the changes he seeks to implement in Israel's judicial system, but rather to shift the battle to the appointments arena. Instead of re-advancing the judicial overhaul legislation, which stalled amid massive public protests in 2023, he plans to wait for justices to retire and appoint new ones in their place.