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US calls Knesset's vote to limit Supreme Court powers 'unfortunate'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Jul 2023 21:18
  • 2 Shares
5 Min Read

Washington says it supports mediation attempts for Israeli political parties to reach a consensus agreement over the critical dispute.

  • x
  • US calls Knesset's vote to limit Supreme Court powers 'unfortunate'
    US President Joe Biden (L) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington DC, United States (AFP)

The United States considers that the Israeli Knesset's vote to limit the powers of the Supreme Court is "unfortunate", the White House said in a statement on Monday.

“As a lifelong friend of Israel, President Biden has publicly and privately expressed his views that major democratic changes to be enduring must have as broad a consensus as possible,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, commenting on the decision.

“It is unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority,” she said. “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."

Jean-Pierre reiterated that Washington "will continue to support the efforts of President Herzog and other Israeli leaders as they seek to build a broader consensus through political dialogue.”

But the press secrtary confirmed that Biden will continue to pressure Netanyahu to end the judicial reform process and engage in negotiations with the opposition parties to reach an agreement.

The Israeli occupation parliament passed in a final vote a bill to restrict the "reasonableness law", which prompts the government to sideline the Supreme Court's power to veto or review decisions made by the ruling echelon.

Violent clashes broke out between demonstrators against the overhaul and occupation police ahead of the vote and later intensified after the cabinet greenlighted the legislation. Ongoing attempts by settlers to storm the Knesset have been brutally faced by law enforcement using water cannons and mounted officers to disperse the angry crowds.

The opposition coalition, comprising 56 members and mainly represented by former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, boycotted the final vote, resulting in the bill passing with 0 opposition votes and 64 in favor.

In a rare public comment about the entity's internal affairs, Biden warned the Israeli government on Sunday against proceeding with the judicial reforms introduced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Given the range of threats and challenges confronting Israel right now, it doesn’t make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this – the focus should be on pulling people together and finding consensus,” Biden said in a statement provided to CNN.

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During a phone call last week, the US President asked the Israeli Prime Minister "not to rush" with the judicial reform legislation and build a broad consensus within "Israel".

“This is obviously an area about which Israelis have strong views, including in an enduring protest movement that is demonstrating the vibrancy of Israel’s democracy, which must remain the core of our bilateral relationship,” Biden told The New York Times in an interview at the oval office.

“Finding consensus on controversial areas of policy means taking the time you need. For significant changes, that’s essential. So my recommendation to Israeli leaders is not to rush. I believe the best outcome is to continue to seek the broadest possible consensus here.”

Brewing turmoil

For several days, political parties have been engaged in intense negotiations, striving to reach a consensus agreement. President Issac Herzog has played a crucial role as the mediator in these talks.

However, the discussions collapsed just moments before the government session, leaving the entire occupation entity in a state of turmoil. The situation is expected to exacerbate existing divisions and could potentially lead to further strife within "Israel".

As per the law's draft, courts are forbidden from subjecting cabinet and ministerial decisions, such as appointments and the decision not to exercise vested authorities, to any form of scrutiny based on "reasonableness".

While the Prime Minister's allies hailed the Knesset's vote, opposers to Netanyahu's overhaul, both from political parties and non-governmental organizations, declared that this will not go without consequences.

Addressing Netanyahu and his allies, former Prime Minister and opposition prominent figure Yair Lapid sounded the alarm that the government has placed the entity today at a crossroads, noting that he will be submitting an appeal to the Supreme Court to have the bill annulled.

“This is a complete breaking of the rules of the game,” Lapid said from a conference room inside the Knesset. “The government and coalition can choose what direction the state goes in, but it can’t decide the character of the state,” he added.

Meanwhile, the organizers of the protests declared that the opposition crowds will “fight them [Netanyahu's government] to the very end.”

“We’ve only just begun.”

  • United States
  • judicial overhaul
  • Washington
  • Israel
  • US
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Knesset
  • judiciary reform
  • Joe Biden
  • white house

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