Netanyahu being scolded all over the world: Lapid
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The leader of the Israeli opposition says premier Benjamin Netanyahu is dragging "Israel" through the mud by getting censured in various capitals all over the world.
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Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at Downing Street in London, Friday, March 24, 2023 (AP)
Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is being scolded in every capital of the world, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Friday.
According to Lapid, the embarrassing censuring that Netanyahu is being subjected to in every capital around the world "not only insults Israel but also damages our ability to mobilize the international community against Iran, the economic community to invest in Israel, and the Jewish diaspora to have a deep connection with Israel."
Lapid being vocal about his dissatisfaction with Netanyahu's actions comes after the Israeli premier met his British counterpart, Rishi Sunak, in London on Thursday during a visit that was dominated by the internal issues facing the Israeli occupation.
As Netanyahu arrived in the UK, and while he was on his way to Downing Street, hundreds of Israeli protestors welcomed the Prime Minister by chanting against him and his government's judicial overhaul plans.
Watch: Netanyahu not welcome in the UK
Video from the scene showed Netanyahu walking up to the PM's residence with cries of "shame" echoing up the street as he shook hands with Sunak.
Shouts of SHAME in Hebrew echo across Downing street in London as UK PM Sunak welcomes Israeli PM Netanyahu for talks on Iran nuclear "threat".
— #SupportPalestine #BDS #Yemen #Kashmir #Assange (@ChristineJameis) March 24, 2023
Netanyahu’s happy to chill in Britain, leaving behind TURMOIL in Israel amid country-wide outrage pic.twitter.com/sxcLrlfcTA
There was no public address from either premier in the wake of the meeting after reporters traveling with Netanyahu were told they could enter 10 Downing Street for opening statements before the closed-doors meeting between the two leaders, but they were told on Friday morning that no reporters would be allowed in for initial comments.
The London scenes echoed those in Berlin earlier this month, where hundreds gathered at the Brandenburg Gate to protest the Israeli government's planned judicial form, which would limit the Israeli Supreme Court's power, which ignited weeks of mass protests that further exposed the division in Israeli society.
The Berlin protests came in parallel with Netanyahu's visit to the German capital, where he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who expressed concerns about the judicial overhaul, and with whom he sparred during a public joint statement over the judicial reform plans.
"There was an attempt, as it seems, not to have the meeting with Sunak highlighted, as the two leaders, in an unusual move, did not make any public statements," Israeli media said.
Sunak has been under pressure to publicly comment on the Israeli occupation's judicial reform plans, leading to speculation that he chose to not make any public statements with Netanyahu in order to avoid having to take a stance on the issue.
Netanyahu's office said in the wake of the meeting that the two premiers' meeting was centered around the Iranian nuclear program, noting that Netanyahu thanked his British counterpart for his stance on the issue, though he claimed that more pressure was needed on Tehran.
However, the Israeli statement did not mention any discussion with Sunak regarding the government's plan for judicial reform, while there was no immediate statement on the meeting from the UK's side.
Netanyahu is scheduled to meet later in the day with British Home Secretary Suella Braverman, as well, without making public statements or holding a press conference.
Numerous political groups organized protests on Thursday in light of the government's plans to undermine the judiciary through a judicial reform law.
The opposition had submitted multiple objections to the measure, which had been expedited in the Knesset's House Committee, and had pledged to mount a fierce obstruction against the legislation, which was perceived as "tailored" to spare Netanyahu from potential legal difficulties.
As Netanyahu is being reprimanded abroad, Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara accused the premier of violating the conflict of interest agreement that allows him to govern during his ongoing corruption trial, describing his statements Thursday night and any further involvement in the coalition's judicial overhaul plan as "illegal and tainted by a conflict of interest.
Baharav-Miara's letter came after Netanyahu declared that he would no longer follow the conflict of interest agreement and would instead become heavily involved in the developing, hotly contested judicial reform legislation.
