President Joe Biden has urged Israel to postpone its divisive judicial reforms in a statement released on Sunday. The President stated that given the other challenges facing Israel, rushing through the reforms would not be beneficial. Biden emphasized the importance of pulling people together and finding consensus instead.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pushing for a vote on his controversial proposal to curb the power of judges in the Knesset as early as Monday. The proposal has sparked protests from both supporters and opponents over the weekend, with concerns raised about its potential impact on Israel’s democracy.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who is leading the reforms, said that the bill has been modified to address concerns from critics. However, the coalition remains open to understandings. Netanyahu’s government argues that the reforms are necessary to prevent unelected judges from overreaching and to achieve a better balance of power.
Opponents of the reforms, including some 20 legislators, accuse Netanyahu of having a conflict of interest due to his ongoing corruption charges. They have labeled him the crime minister and are concerned about limiting the Supreme Court judges’ ability to strike down government decisions they deem unreasonable.
If the reforms are approved, the reasonability clause would be the first major change to become law. Additional proposed changes include giving the government more influence in the appointment of judges.
President Biden’s statement reflects the concerns of Israel’s friends in the United States, who see the current proposal as further dividing the country instead of fostering unity. The President’s call for postponement aims to encourage Israeli leaders to focus on bringing people together and finding common ground amidst the challenges they face.
Both supporters and opponents of the judicial reforms will continue to make their voices heard as the proposed bill is brought to a vote in the Knesset. The outcome of the vote will determine the future of the reforms and whether they will be implemented. In the meantime, Israel’s democracy and the balance of power within its judicial system remain at the center of a heated debate.
