Israeli minister accuses US of supporting opposition protests
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Israeli occupation "Justice" Minister says remarks made by US officials against the judicial overhaul reflect their honest views about the matter.
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Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with "Justice" Minister Yariv Levin during the weekly meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in occupied Al-Quds, on April 2, 2023 (AFP)
Israeli occupation "Justice" Minister Yariv Levin said the US administration has been cooperating with anti-judicial overhaul protesters, Israeli media reported on Monday.
The Israeli news website Walla published footage of Levin having a meal with Haredi Jews on Sunday evening.
In the video, the occupation minister was criticizing the media’s opposition to the overhaul, which put Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition at an "unimaginable disadvantage" but said that he was "determined to fight on this issue."
"They have the court, the attorney general, the heads of the economy, the American government — which works in cooperation with them on this issue, which is evident by the things government spokespeople say there," the Israeli minister pointed out.
Levin considered that remarks made by US officials against the judicial overhaul reflect their honest views about the matter.
Levin has led proposals to make most judicial appointments under government control and undermine the powers of the Israeli occupation Supreme Court to execute judicial review over the Netanyahu coalition’s decisions.
In late March, Netanyahu ordered a legislation halt to allow Israeli occupation President Isaac Herzog to lead negotiations aimed at reaching a broad consensus.
The Israeli occupation "Justice" Minister considered that even if Netanyahu's government had better explained the judicial overhaul, it wouldn’t have changed the course of events due to the Israeli opposition’s financing and its "decisive control of journalism."
Levin blamed the pause in the legislation on divisions within Netanyahu's Likud party over the matter, stressing the need for unity among party ranks.
He stressed that "the situation can’t stay like this. I am making great efforts to close ranks in Likud and in the coalition."
The Israeli minister pointed out that the Israeli opposition has not agreed to a single clause of the legislation but considered that it was preferable "to try and exhaust this effort, it’s good for everyone."
In mid-March, Israeli media cited a source close to Netanyahu as saying that the US is financing the anti-judicial overhaul protests.
The source said the protests are funded and organized with millions of dollars, pointing out that there is an organized center from which all demonstrators branch out in an organized manner.
Israeli media also reported that Netanyahu's office believes that the PM has become a persona non grata in the White House.
Read more: US involvement in sparking Israeli protests 'false': State Dept.
