U. S. does not approve of Netanyahu’s changes in Israeli judicial system
2023.02.19 05:51
U. S. does not approve of Netanyahu’s changes in Israeli judicial system
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – According to the American envoy to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should hold off on moving forward with a contentious judicial overhaul because doing so could make it more difficult for Washington to assist him in promoting ties with Saudi Arabia or dealing with Iran.
Israel has been in turmoil over the hard-right government of Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to implement changes to the judiciary, which critics claim jeopardize the country’s democratic checks and balances.
On Monday, Israel’s parliament may hold the first of three votes on a bill that would limit the Supreme Court’s ability to overturn laws or rule against the executive while simultaneously increasing the government’s influence over the selection of judges.
Ambassador Tom Nides told CNN podcast The Axe Files late on Saturday, “We’re telling the Prime Minister, as I tell my kids, pump the brakes, slow down, try to get a consensus, bring the parties together.”
While Nides emphasized Israel’s security and representation at the United Nations support from the United States, he also stated that Netanyahu’s stated hopes of establishing diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia or dealing with Iran’s nuclear program were at risk.
“Are you sure? The Prime Minister wants to do big things? Nides stated, “He tells us he wants to do big things.” I told him and the prime minister a hundred times, “If your backyard is on fire, we can’t spend time on things we want to work on together.”
At a weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu talked about the tension in Israel, but he didn’t specifically mention Nides’ comments.
“It makes me happy to disappoint our adversaries and reassure our friends that Israel was and will continue to be a strong and vibrant democracy. “A democracy that is independent,” he said.
Amichai Chikli, Minister of Diaspora Affairs, offered a more contentious perspective on Nides, telling public broadcaster Kan: You apply the brakes, I advise the American ambassador. Take care of yourself. You are not sovereign in this location to talk about judicial reforms. We respect our democracy and are happy to discuss diplomatic and security issues with you.
President Isaac Herzog is attempting to bring the government and the opposition together to agree on legal reforms and freeze legislation on the current plan, which successive polls have shown has relatively little support and has sparked nationwide protests. He has warned that Israel is on the verge of a “constitutional and social collapse.”
Netanyahu, who is accused of corruption but denies, has said that the changes are needed to restore balance between the government, the Knesset, and the judiciary. Some members of his coalition say that the judiciary is too elitist and uses its power too much to get involved in politics.
