Tensions between Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Chief Justice Miriam Naor over the selection process for the four new Supreme Court justices appointed this week seem to have dissipated. The friction had been sparked by Shaked's determination to introduce a more conservative tone to the judiciary with the new judges. The names of the new justices were announced Wednesday: Jerusalem District Court Judge David Mintz, Haifa District Court President Yosef Elron, Haifa District Court Judge Yael Willner, and Tel Aviv District Court Deputy President George Karra. After the announcement, Shaked and Naor each issued statements thanking one another and welcoming the new additions to the Supreme Court. "I first and foremost thank [Supreme Court] President Naor and all the members of the [Judicial Nomination] committee for their difficult and intense work over many months, leading to such a good and successful outcome," Shaked said. She added that the judges chosen are "excellent and professional, and they represent Israeli society as a whole." In an interview with Army Radio, Shaked said the new judges "will increase public confidence in the Supreme Court as well as the confidence of the Right. ... Excellent judges, with a lot of experience seniority and diversity, were selected. The next mission is an ultra-Orthodox judge." Naor also praised the justices in a letter to Israeli judges. "I am proud and happy that the committee succeeded in advancing four skilled, professional and greatly experienced judges through the court system. They will no doubt make an important contribution to the missions that stand before Supreme Court judges," she wrote. "The role of Israeli judges in our democratic regime is to determine conflicts between man and his peer, to safeguard the rule of law and to protect human rights in Israel. Judges enjoy full judicial independence. Each one rules on every issue before him to the best of his ability and conscience within the framework of the law, without fear or bias. This is how the judges of Israel have operated and how they will continue to operate, including the judges who have been promoted." She ended her letter with "We will welcome everyone warmly," repeating a sentiment she expressed immediately after the appointment. Former Justice Minister Professor Daniel Friedmann told Israel Hayom the appointments were "a great success" for Shaked. He said they were the result of efforts by government members to increase their influence on appointments. "The Supreme Court has greatly expanded its authority and also interpreted the law as authorization for it to strike down Knesset laws," Friedmann said. "Clearly, in such circumstances, it is expected that politicians will have much greater interest in the appointment of justices than they did in the past, and what happened in the final meeting reflects that."
