The Courts Administration on Sunday decided to increase security for Supreme Court Justice Uzi Vogelman, given his recent controversial ruling to suspend the razing of terrorists' homes. The decision, harshly criticized by right-wing MKs, has resulted in several threats against the judge on social media, prompting the Courts Administration to order the move. The decision's most vocal critic was Habayit Hayehudi MK Moti Yogev, who accused Vogelman of "siding with the enemy." In a Facebook post last week, Yogev said Vogelman "defends the rights of murderers, and by doing so he prevents deterring punishment, thus endangering people's lives." Comments on Yogev's remarks included posts suggesting razing Vogelman's home, and threatening statements such as "God will destroy him soon," and "He won't be a judge for much longer." Director of Israel's Courts Michael Spitzer filed a grievance against Yogev with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, saying, "As a lawmaker, MK Yogev has gone too far by making an extreme and inciting remark, which these days may be perceived as a call to violence against the courts, the judges, and the entire legal system." Yogev's recent remark, Spitzer said, "Is reminiscent of his previous statements against the court, suggesting it should be bulldozed. We demand action be taken against him." In a statement quoted by the Walla news website, Edelstein said he found it "strange and inappropriate that a [court] official, senior as he may be, would appeal to the Knesset speaker not through his superiors [the Justice Ministry], level harsh criticism against an MK, and make it public before the matter was even reviewed." Nevertheless, Edelstein said he was "greatly concerned" by the verbal onslaught against the High Court and its judges, and urged lawmakers and the public alike to respect the judiciary's absolute independence. Speaking with Army Radio Monday, Yogev dismissed the incitement allegations. "My criticism may have been harsh, but it was authentic," he said. "We have come to a point when you cannot speak against the judiciary and that's very serious. This was not incitement." The judiciary "is upset because I've come too close to their ivory tower," Yogev said. "I plan to appeal to the civil service commissioner and ask he make it clear to him [Spitzer] that he has grossly overstepped his authority, and that they [Courts Administration officials] cannot stop an elected lawmaker from leveling well-deserved criticism at the Supreme Court." Meanwhile, Zionist Union MK Ksenia Svetlova filed a grievance against Yogev with the Knesset's Ethics Committee, saying his remarks against the High Court were "disrespectful to the Knesset, and constituted incitement against government symbols."
