The President of the Supreme Court, Justice Isaac Amit, and the Director of the Courts, Justice Tzachi Uziel, issued a letter today to all judges following the violent incidents carried out by haredi (ultra-Orthodox) protesters yesterday at the home of the Supreme Court Vice President, Justice Noam Sohlberg.
“This represents crossing a red line and an attack on the entire judicial system and the rule of law in Israel," they wrote. "The judiciary will not hesitate to take all measures at its disposal to ensure the safety and security of its employees.”
“Last night, an unprecedentedly serious incident occurred. During a violent and unruly protest outside the home of the Supreme Court vice president, rioters smashed windows and flowerpots, causing damage to his home and vehicle. This happened while the vice president, his wife, children, and grandchildren were inside and witnessed the disturbances,” they wrote.
“This crosses a red line, behavior far beyond the bounds of legitimate protest, and is an attempt to undermine the sense of security of judicial officeholders and their families. The severe acts of violence directed at the vice president and his family constitute, in effect, an attack on the entire judicial system and the rule of law in Israel.
"We condemn all manifestations of violence, particularly those aimed at judges and public officials because of their positions. The judiciary will not hesitate to take all measures at its disposal, in coordination with law enforcement and security agencies, to ensure your safety and security and to prevent such incidents in the future.”
Supreme Court president, courts director, thank police for securing vice president
“Our appreciation and thanks go to the men and women of the court guards, who acted decisively, quickly, and professionally, in coordination with the Israel Police, to restore order and the sense of security for the vice president and his family. We also thank the staff of the courts administration, who immediately mobilized and supported the vice president with sensitivity and dedication, providing comprehensive and rapid assistance to repair the property damage at the site,” they wrote.
“We stand with the vice president and his family, who had to endure these serious acts of violence. Attempts to pressure, intimidate, or deter judges will not affect the fulfillment of their duties. Israel’s judges will continue to perform their work professionally, independently, and without fear, in accordance with the law and their obligation to the public,” they added.
Finally, they addressed judges personally: “Your personal safety and sense of security are our foremost concern and a fundamental condition for our ability to continue serving the public faithfully. We recognize that such exceptional events can provoke strong emotions, and we urge you not to face these feelings alone. The presidents and directors of the courts at all levels are at your disposal. Our doors are also open to anyone who feels the need. May we know calm days.”
Isaac Amit warns of increasing persecution of judiciary
On Monday, at a Bar Association conference, Amit warned that public discourse toward the court had reached a low point.
"The path from rhetoric to action is very short. Public figures attack sitting judges with derogatory labels – ‘enemies of the nation,’ ‘they are not of Israel,’ ‘thieves and bullies,’ and more. We witness disrespectful language toward judges that is unacceptable anywhere, certainly not from government officials," he said.
“Some judges hesitate to answer unknown phone numbers. Some have even faced attempts to forcefully enter hearings, requiring judges to be evacuated from the courtroom. Why do we normalize all this? Each time we remain silent in the face of a degrading act, our internal threshold shifts. Normalization is numbing – what seemed yesterday like an unimaginable violation becomes today a borderline case, and tomorrow a routine reality,” he added.