Rothman Accuses Supreme Court of Political Bias and Pushes Attorney General Split

Knesset Constitution Committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman sharply attacked Supreme Court Justice Yitzhak Amit on Tuesday, saying Amit was acting like a political player rather than a judge. In an interview with Dana Varon on the morning edition, Rothman argued that Amit should not have sat in a hearing dealing with his own powers, calling that proof, in his words, that he is a politician.

Rothman also said the so-called “Bagsatz party,” his term for the Supreme Court bloc, wants to appoint judges through political means rather than in a way that reflects public sentiment. He added that the public does not believe Amit’s concern over the decline in trust in the court, saying trust in the Supreme Court is dropping again and again.

The lawmaker also addressed the bill to split the attorney general’s role, saying he is working “with all his might” to advance it to second and third readings in the current Knesset. He said shortening this Knesset’s term would significantly reduce the chances of passage, but stressed that the measure has already passed its first reading and is therefore an important achievement.

Rothman also commented on the security situation, saying Israeli forces are achieving results that are hard to imagine on every front. He said Israel has broken the “quiet will be met with quiet” doctrine and declared, “the people of Israel are winning,” even if it takes time.