The President of the United States, Joe Biden, backed
efforts for the compromise over a planned reform for Israeli judicial overhaul
in a call with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.
The White House said in a readout, "The President offered
support for efforts underway to forge a compromise on proposed judicial reforms
consistent with those core principles." The White House statement revealed
that the US President told the Israeli leader that democratic principles were a
“hallmark” of the relationship between the US and Israel. The US President
further told Netanyahu that “genuine checks and balances strengthened
democratic societies.” Biden said that reforms to the Israeli judicial overhaul
should respect core democratic values.
Recently, thousands of Israelis took to the streets to
protest against the government’s judicial reform plans. They argued that the
plan would undermine Israel’s democracy.
Netanyahu’s justice minister unveiled the new government’s
long-promised overhaul of the judicial system in January this year. The planned
reforms triggered 11 straight weeks of protests in the country, with many
accusing the Israeli leader of using the reforms to quash possible judgements
against him on the corruption cases.
The reforms can reportedly weaken the supreme court by
allowing lawmakers to vote on the supreme court ruling. Protesters fear that
the Israeli judicial overhaul could increase the power of politicians in the
country.
Yair Lapid, the former prime minister and head of the opposition,
expressed concern over the planned reforms. He said he would fight the changes
and cancel them if he returns to power.
Israel has been gripped by protests for more than two
months. Israelis have repeatedly opposed a proposed overhaul of the country's
legal system, with many sending open letters warning the government.
According to the Israeli media, Israel’s President Isaac
Herzog was working with a group of legal academics on a compromise proposal for
the reform of Israeli judicial overhaul.