Israel Appoints 79 New Judges in Largest Swearing-In Ceremony

On September 15, 2026, 79 new judges were sworn in at a ceremony held in the garden of the presidential residence in Jerusalem, presided over by Israeli President Isaac Herzog. This marks one of the largest appointments in the history of the Israeli judicial system and aims to address significant backlogs that have accumulated in various courts.

The ceremony took place amidst a tense atmosphere, according to The Times of Israel. Supreme Court President Isaac Amit and Justice Minister Yariv Levin, both in attendance, notably did not shake hands. This strained interaction reflects ongoing disagreements between the judiciary and the executive branch concerning the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee.

Minister Levin had previously insisted on approving judicial candidates through broad consensus, which facilitated these large-scale appointments despite opposition from the judicial leadership. During the ceremony, both Minister Levin and President Herzog delivered speeches to the new judges and other attendees.

Justice Minister Levin emphasized the importance of upholding the law and maintaining the independence of the justice system. "This is a day of joy, a day when, according to the Jewish calendar, we all appear before judgment, precisely in the days when we all accept this judgment, you are granted the right to make decisions. Justice, justice you shall pursue... You swear allegiance to the State of Israel, not to this sector or that public, but to the State of Israel," Levin stated.

Despite the persistent differences between political leadership and the judiciary, the integration of the new judges into the system has officially concluded.