Amir Ohana takes office as Justice Minister

“We all want to strengthen the judicial system; that is best achieved by keeping the courts away from subjects at issue in Israeli society,” said Amir Ohana on Sunday in his confirmation speech as Israel’s new justice minister. Ohana, who faced past criticism for his view that court judges are not infallible, said on Sunday that the high court ought to refrain from interfering in certain fields, even when it deems the conduct of the Knesset, the government or the prime minister inappropriate. Their conduct, said the new minister, should be left to the court of public opinion and the voter, as manifested in the democratic process. At the same time, Ohana stressed that he takes office “with open hands and heart.”