9On 22 March 2023, Zulat held an emergency webinar within the Emergency Call-Up Order project to discuss the deceitful “Softening Scheme” of the coalition and the regime revolution. Moderated by Haaretz journalist Neta Ahituv and with a live audience of over 6,000 people, the webinar included an opening statement by Zulat President Zehava Galon and its participants were former ministers Roni Bar-On and Avi Nissenkorn and former Knesset Members Mossi Raz and Revital Sweid. Following are highlights of their remarks:
Zulat President Zehava Galon: “The Emergency Call-Up Order project was born of the realization that many former ministers and MKs were eager to make their voice heard. We recruited a huge group of former MKs who are raising their voice against the regime revolution in Knesset committees and public events. In its bid to change the regime, we see this government driving us to the abyss. On top of the regime coup, today the government shamelessly voted down a bill that would have required spouse-beating men to wear electronic monitoring bracelets, thus throwing women to the dogs with its madness, stupidity, and recklessness. We have a lot of work on our hands. They have a parliamentary majority, but the millions marching in the streets will defeat them.”
Former Finance Minister Roni Bar-On: “Our economy is highly dependent on investments from abroad. No investor will ever trust a government that abolishes the principle of separation of powers and does whatever it wants. We now have a single branch of power, and the glorious principle of separation of powers and of checks and balances is all but gone. I already hear about investments not coming here. The so-called softening of the reform recalls tenderizing a piece of meat, by pounding it out blow by blow.”
Former MK Revital Sweid: “What’s happening in the Constitution Committee is not really a discussion. Never before has a committee chairman so totally ignored speakers appearing before it or the committee’s legal counsel. Never before have we seen such volume of pig-headedness. Minorities and disadvantaged groups will be the first to suffer. Years ago, women in the Knesset on opposite sides of the political spectrum collaborated on legislation for women, and nothing could drive us apart. Today we see nothing of the sort.”
Former Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn: “The protest is saving Israel. As someone who knows Bibi, I want to tell you that he is not out of control. His most precious wish was the legislation of the Gifts Law [allowing lawmakers to accept gifts to pay for legal fees] and the law protecting him from impeachment, and he got them both. The so-called softening is no softening at all, as the coalition will continue to control the Judicial Selection Committee. The entire judicial reform is being done through private bills, which is unheard of. Israel’s new constitution is being written by Kohelet Forum.”
Former MK Mossi Raz: “The protest will not stop even if Netanyahu halts the legislation. What we have here is an onslaught on the lifestyle of half of the Israeli public, if not more. People will demand an equality law. The regime coup is accompanied by very extreme measures in the occupied territories. Netanyahu is leading us to a soft dictatorship, as suggested by the name of this webinar.”
Watch (Hebrew, no subtitles):