Justice Minister Yariv Levin is on the verge of resignation as the government prepares to decide who will represent it on the judicial selection committee, officials familiar with the matter told Israel Hayom this week. 

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Levin, the main driving force behind the judicial reform, is said to be concerned that the candidates he proposes for the committee would not be backed by the government, leading to the collapse of the controversial legislation. 

According to sources, Levin is in "complete despair." 

"He is on the verge of breaking it all, on the verge of resigning, for Levin it's all or nothing," one official said. 

Nevertheless, those close to Levin say he is not distressed over the matter. 

Following negotiations led by President Isaac Herzog, a representative from the Opposition will also be chosen for the committee. Sources said the matter is of no concern for Levin either, as it will not make a difference as his candidates are unlikely to be chosen anyway. 

Although there are several contenders, Transportation Minister Miri Regev is most likely to be appointed to the poisition, and is the preferred option by Netanyahu. 

Regev served on the judicial selection committee in the past. At a Knesset meeting on Sunday she said, "I used to be a member of the judicial selection committee and I saw how everything is biased. The current reality, in which Supreme Court Chief Justice [Esther] Chayut together with the Bar Association select the judges is unbearable. They are all from the same DNA. This must change, we must have representation and diversity in the court."

Prominent lawmakers Orit Strock, Galit Distel Atbaryan, and May Golan were also mentioned as potential candidates. 

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As negotiations continue over the highly contested judicial reform, the Coalition offered this week to postpone making changes to the judicial selection committee by a year, Israel Hayom has learned.

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Senior Coalition members involved in the talks – led by President Isaac Herzog – said that in exchange, the Opposition were asked to consent to other components of the legislation, such as the one pertaining to the attorney general and reasonableness.

Some of the bills are expected to pass already in the current summer session, and the rest in the next, winter session.

It is unclear whether the proposal will be accepted as the Opposition has asked the Coalition to refrain from making any changes in this regard during the current, 25th Knesset, at all.

According to Knesset rules, the Coalition will announce this week the votes to appoint the Knesset representatives to the judicial selection committee in its old format.

The elections will be held in two weeks, on June 15. The president is said to be working intensively to reach a deal by then.

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The post Coalition offers to postpone changes to judicial selection committee by year appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.