Israel Business Leaders: Scrap Judicial Overhaul

Dire warnings against the judicial overhaul continued from the business community, with bank chiefs and other industry leaders telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the legislative process will “turn Israel into a dictatorship,” the Times of Israel (TOI) reported.

Photo Insert: The Supreme Court of Israel

The signatories on the letter to the premier from the Israel Business Forum included the heads of some of the country’s most successful businesses, as well as the top executives of five banks.

“We call on you to immediately stop the planned legislative moves, chief among them the law to change the committee for the selection of judges,” read the letter, referring to the judicial appointments bill that will cement coalition control over the selection of judges, including High Court justices.

“The signatories were headed by forum leader Harel Wiesel, CEO of the Fox Group, and included the heads of Bank Mizrahi Tefahot, First International Bank of Israel, Bank Hapoalim, Bank Leumi, and Israel Discount Bank.

The top executives at Phoenix and Harel insurance groups also signed the letter, along with leaders at the Azrieli Group and Deloitte, and the heads of the Isrotel, Dan and Fattal hotel groups and the Shufersal, Strauss and Super-Pharm retail giants.

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