(Washington) US President Joe Biden called on Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday for a “compromise” over his controversial reform of Israel’s justice system, the White House said in a statement.
During a telephone call to the Israeli Prime Minister, Joe Biden stressed, during his first public position on this file, that the reform had to respect fundamental democratic values, specified the American presidency.
Democratic principles are a “trademark” of US-Israeli relations, the US president said. He “offered his support for ongoing efforts to find a compromise […] in accordance with these fundamental principles,” the statement read.
“Democratic societies are reinforced by real checks and balances” and any substantive change must have the “widest possible popular support”, Joe Biden told Benyamin Netanyahu, according to the same source.
Announced in early January, Israel’s judicial reform includes the introduction of an “override” clause allowing parliament to overrule a Supreme Court decision by a simple majority.
It aims to increase the power of elected officials over that of magistrates. According to its detractors, it jeopardizes the democratic character of the State of Israel and could help to quash a possible conviction of Mr. Netanyahu, tried for corruption in several cases.
The Prime Minister and his allies believe for their part that the reform is necessary to restore a balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which they consider politicized. Several provisions have already been adopted at first reading in Parliament.
Thousands of protesters in Israel took to the streets again on Saturday, for the 11e consecutive week, in order to denounce the bill of the judicial system supported by Benyamin Netanyahu.
On Wednesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog presented a draft compromise on the reform project, accepted by the leaders of the opposition parties, but immediately rejected by the ruling coalition.