'System is sluggish.' Ne'eman (L) and Rotem
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Rightist MK: Left controls legal system
Yisrael Beiteinu's David Rotem responds to criticism over his appointment to Committee for Appointing Judges, says legal system belongs to citizens 'of certain color, political affiliation'
"The Israeli legal system apparently belongs to citizens who live in certain areas, have a certain type of skin color and are leftist in their political affiliation," Knesset Member David Rotem, who chairs the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, said Tuesday.
Rotem, a member of the rightist Yisrael Beiteinu party, made the remark in response to the recent criticism over his appointment as the coalition's representative on the Committee for Appointing Judges along with Uri Ariel, another right-wing parliamentarian from the National Union party, who will represent the opposition.
The committee will also consist of Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman, Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan, Supreme Court President Dorit Beinish, Supreme Court Justices judges Edmond Levy and Ayala Procaccia and Israel Bar Association representatives Pinhas Marinsky and Rachel Ben-Ari.
Rotem said judges should be selected according to their efficiency. "The justice system is sluggish. Hundreds of thousands cases are not being handled," he said.
"The entire system is to blame for this. Hearings should be held on consecutive days. The system requires a major overhaul."
