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new justice minister Daniel Friedmann (Tel Aviv U.)
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| By Ynetnews February 7, 2007 |
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The Knesset approved Daniel Friedmann's appointment as Israel's next justice minister on Wednesday. Fifty Knesset members voted in favor of the appointment, 24 against and one Knesset member abstained.
After his swearing-in, Friedmann said: "I intend to cooperate fully with all factors of the judicial system, to reinforce the rule of law, to improve what needs improving and maintain the respect of the courts.
"I hope to justify the faith that has been placed in me," he added. "I am grateful for the support I have received in the Knesset from those who voted in my favor and also from those who voted against me but congratulated me nonetheless."
After the swearing-in ceremony he sat, for the first time, in the plenum next to Education Minister Yuli Tamir.
MK Yossi Beilin (Meretz) objected to the appointment: "Friedmann is not joining the government because he is a great jurist. He was appointed because in the last few years he expressed opinions about the courts similar to the prime minister's.
"The prime minister, who is currently under police investigation, appointed a justice minister who challenges the entire judicial system. He has harshly criticized judges and the attorney general, has called for a constitutional court and passes judgment on judicial review. This isn't a minister who has some criticism about the system, this is someone who has no faith in it," Beilin insisted.
MK Michael Eitan (Likud) appealed to the new minister to establish a state committee of inquiry to eliminate corruption, but he too expressed an objection to Friedmann's appointment.
"Professor Friedmann was appointed for his agenda that includes reform in the appointment of judges and restraining judicial activism," he said. Nonetheless, he wished him "luck in executing these reforms, while maintaining his dignity, the completeness and efficiency of the judicial system and law enforcement in Israel."
MK Avraham Michaeli (Shas) said he voted for Friedmann because "I think that the justice minister is entitled to his own opinions and he does not have to agree with the Supreme Court judges, with all due respect. Does the Defense Minister have to agree with the Chief of Staff? The Justice Minister is a professional minister in all aspects and he can express his views even if not everybody likes them."
Friedmann was selected to replace Haim Ramon following the latter's conviction for indecent conduct.
Reprinted with permission from Ynet. |
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