A heated confrontation is taking place this evening (Wednesday) between Channel 14 commentator Yaakov Bardugo and Justice Minister Yariv Levin - following the minister's decision to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Noam Solberg to the position of Deputy President of the Supreme Court.
Bardugo was furious about the decision and wrote: "Levin is going to swear in the Deputy President of the Supreme Court, spitting in the face of two million voters who voted directly and indirectly for this government.".
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Levin was not left unsatisfied - and responded sharply: "Yaakov Bardugo is the best thing that happened to Yitzhak Amit. From the moment I managed to renew the reform legislation a few months ago, he has been systematically working to divide the right-wing camp, to try to undermine public support for the change processes I am leading and to stop them.".
He said, "There is nothing more pathetic and despicable than shooting in the back someone who is leading, with unprecedented courage and while paying heavy personal prices, the historic struggle to remove the dictatorship that has ruled us for decades.".
Levin made it clear that he does not cooperate with those who, in his words, tried to take control of Supreme Court appointments: "I do not work with those who by force took my authority and trampled on the public I represent, when he tried to appoint himself President of the Supreme Court, and to the same extent I respect the judges who will be sworn in tomorrow, and whose appointments constitute important news for the entire public.".
Levin added: "We are in the midst of the most difficult public struggle the State of Israel has ever known. We have the power to succeed in it, if we are determined, patient and united, in a way that will not allow those who try to thwart us to achieve their goal.".
Earlier, his office said: "Minister Levin announced in advance that he would attend the swearing-in of dozens of judges tomorrow, many of whom are excellent appointments that he fought hard for for a long time, despite the judges' opposition and after the system prevented their promotion.".
