Blue And White Says Coalition Talks Hit New Obstacle over Judicial Panel

By Staff, Agencies

The emergency unity government talks in the “Israeli” entity apparently hit yet another obstacle on Monday as the Likud party, chaired by the entity’s caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tried to put the role of a key parliamentary panel on the agenda.

According to a statement from the Blue and White, which also announced Monday a future merger with the Labor party, Likud sought a discussion on “the role and procedures governing the Judicial Appointments Committee,” which names judges for “Israeli” courts.

The move prompted an immediate halt to the talks, with the alliance led by Benny Gantz saying that any changes to the committee's functions were non-negotiable and vowing to defend "Israel's" democracy.

The suspension followed reports on major progress made in the coalition talks as an understanding was reached on the prospect of applying “Israeli” dominion to areas in the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley.

Under the agreement, Netanyahu would be able to put the plan to a vote in the government – provided that he receives a green light from the US.

The arrangement drew sharp criticism from the predominantly Arab Joint List alliance, with its chief Ayman Odeh condemning Gantz for his “most severe surrender yet,” saying the plan would put an end to any hopes of a solution for the so-called “Israeli”-Palestinian conflict.

On the right-wing, Netanyahu's allies in the Yamina party reportedly also accused him of caving in to the left by handing it the control over the Supreme Court.