More countries join US in lamenting bill
Major Jewish organisations and community leaders abroad have reacted with alarm to the passing of the first piece of judicial overhaul legislation.
(Times of Israel/AFP) – The White House expressed its dismay over the passing of the first piece of judicial overhaul legislation by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and urged authorities not to molest protesters.
“As a lifelong friend of Israel, [US President Joe] Biden has publicly and privately expressed his views that for major changes in a democracy to be enduring, they must have as broad a consensus as possible,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement.
Netanyahu had assured the Biden administration in recent months that he was working to secure broad support for the reforms, but decided last month to move forward with the controversial legislation after negotiations with the opposition broke down.
Biden made a last-ditch plea on Sunday, again urging Netanyahu not to advance such a divisive bill, but the coalition moved ahead, passing the legislation 64-0, as the entire opposition boycotted the vote.
“We understand talks are ongoing and likely to continue over the coming weeks and months to forge a broader compromise even with the Knesset in recess. The United States will continue to support the efforts of President Isaac Herzog and other Israeli leaders as they seek to build a broader consensus through political dialogue,” the Jean-Pierre added.
A handful of Democratic lawmakers also issued condemnations. Jerry Nadler wrote in a statement, “[Netanyahu and] his extremist coalition disregarded the President’s and the Israeli people’s call for consensus … [and] passed legislation that desecrates judicial independence. It is a dark day for Israeli democracy.”
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin added that securing “broad consensus through political dialogue” is a “critical element of a resilient democracy”, in the latest remarks from a Biden administration official.
Germany, too, said it was following the tensions with “great concern”, a source in Berlin’s Foreign Ministry said.
“Especially after today’s adoption of the first part of the planned judicial reform, it remains important that a broad social debate be given sufficient time and space to enable a new consensus,” the source said.
Major Jewish organisations and community leaders abroad also reacted with alarm. The American Jewish Committee (AJC) expressed “profound disappointment” in a written statement.
“Of particular concern to AJC, the continued effort to press forward on judicial reform rather than seeking compromise has sown discord within the Israeli Defence Forces at a time of elevated threats to the Jewish homeland and has strained the vital relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry,” a spokesperson for AJC, one of the world’s most influential Jewish advocacy, wrote.
Seven leaders of the Jewish Agency for Israel and its partner organisations published a letter after the vote, addressed jointly to Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid. They expressed “concern” about the “great polarisation and discord in Israeli society”, imploring the two politicians to “find the broadest common denominator” and moderate “the discourse and the verbal radicalisation”.
Signatories included Steven Lowy and Sam Grundwerg, chair of the World Board of Trustees and world chair of Keren Hayesod, respectively.
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