Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted the annual pre-Passover toast at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
“We are in the midst of an important debate; we will get past it. You will celebrate Passover. On seder night, you will sit with your families. You will argue a little, not too much, you will reach agreements. This is our goal, to reach agreements,” said Netanyahu, in reference to the dispute over judicial reform.
The premier announced on Monday night in a national address that he was putting a hold on the reform effort in order to “provide a real opportunity for real dialogue.
“We are on the path toward a dangerous collision in Israeli society. We are in the midst of a crisis that endangers the basic unity between us. Such a crisis requires us all to act responsibly,” he said.
Shortly thereafter, Israeli President Isaac Herzog phoned Netanyahu, opposition leader Yair Lapid and National Unity Party chief Benny Gantz to urge them to start an immediate negotiation process under his auspices to reach a compromise on judicial reform.
The parties have since designated their representatives and talks are set to begin.
Netanyahu on Tuesday emphasized that the Jewish state “needs to build up security because the threats against us have not ceased.”
To this end, he stressed the importance of “expanding the circle of peace with our neighbors. We have done an amazing thing here and we are not stopping,” he said in reference to the Abraham Accords, the Trump administration-brokered agreements that normalized Jerusalem’s relations with four Arab states.
“We have big plans, with spirit, with effort and with the basic unity that we must not forget, because it has accompanied us for 3,500 years. The path is continuing all the time and we will successfully proceed together.
“May you have a happy holiday,” said Netanyahu.
Passover begins at sundown on April 5 and runs through the evening of April 13, though it only lasts seven days in Israel, ending on April l2.
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