Judicial Panel Names 26 More Judges After Long Freeze

Israel's Judicial Selection Committee selected 26 additional judges and registrars on July 1, extending a week of appointments after an 18-month freeze left courts short of personnel. Supreme Court President Isaac Amit called the added selections significant for the court system, and the new round followed Sunday's larger appointments and long-running pressure to fill vacancies. Earlier reporting placed the breakthrough in the fight over Justice Minister Yariv Levin's refusal to convene the panel. A functioning judiciary is state capacity, and appointments should strengthen service to citizens without turning courts into campaign weapons.