Smotrich and Levin Call for Overhaul of Justice System Following Recordings by Head of Investigations Department

In depth

Religious Zionism leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply attacked the law enforcement system and the media following the recordings of the head of the Investigations Department, and called for reforming the justice system. According to him, the lack of public storm around the recordings points to the "depth of the rot in the symbiosis between our corrupt law enforcement system and the mainstream media." Smotrich noted that the recordings indicate rot in the relationship between the law enforcement system and the media.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin addressed the recordings revealed by Amit Segal and argued that they prove the urgent need to continue the judicial reform. According to him, using criminal investigations to intimidate elected officials, improper interrogation methods and illegal surveillance of citizens are things a democratic state cannot allow.

Levin noted that in the outgoing term, laws and changes to the justice system were advanced, including the appointment of hundreds of judges, the appointment of an ombudsman for complaints against judges, and approval of the disconnection law. Levin called on the next government to complete the reform of the justice system. Minister Karei demanded an external investigation against Blat and the attorney general, and wondered whether affairs were buried due to pressure applied to the head of the Police Internal Investigations Department.