Given the additional difficulties facing the US partner, President Joe Biden encouraged Israel in a statement on Sunday not to hurry increasingly “divisive” judicial reforms.
In a statement first published by news site Axios and later shared with AFP by the White House, Biden said, “It doesn’t make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this – the focus should be on pulling people together and finding consensus.”
“From the perspective of Israel’s friends in the United States, it looks like the current judicial reform proposal is becoming more divisive, not less,” he said.
The controversial plan by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit judges’ authority might be put to a vote in the Knesset as early as Monday.
The idea sparked conflicting demonstrations over the weekend between proponents and opponents who worry it will threaten Israel’s democracy.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who spearheaded the reforms, claimed that the measure L presented to legislators on Monday had undergone revisions to appease critics but noted that the coalition was still amenable to “understandings.”
Over the weekend, Netanyahu dealt with a number of difficulties, not the least of which was a trip to the hospital for a pacemaker fitting after being admitted due to alleged dizziness.
His administration, which has far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, claims that the suggested changes will maintain a fairer balance of power and stop unelected judges from acting excessively.
The 73-year-old Netanyahu is accused of having a conflict of interest by his detractors and some demonstrators have dubbed him the “crime minister.” Netanyahu has been facing corruption charges in court.
Approximately 20 lawmakers have lined up to testify against the bill, which would restrict Supreme Court judges’ ability to overturn government decisions they find “unreasonable.”
The “reasonability” phrase would be the first significant part of the revision to become law if it were adopted. Additional modifications that are
