Harris echoes Biden call for Netanyahu to scrap judicial reform plan
Vice President highlights ‘importance of democracy’ to relationship between the US and Israel
US Vice President Kamala Harris has said “we are watching” the crisis in Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has paused judicial reform plans.
Speaking during a tour of Africa, Ms Harris joined President Joe Biden in expressing concern about Mr Netanyahu’s claim that he was confident of finding a compromise.
While the pause eased tension amid mass demonstrations and a general strike, the Prime Minister plans to bring the bill back in the summer session that starts in April.
The proposed reforms would bar the Supreme Court from striking down government-approved legislation and give the cabinet powers to appoint and dismiss judges. Critics argue the move would erode democratic checks and balances in Israel and allow Mr Netanyahu, who is facing corruption charges, undue power over his own legal proceedings.
The Prime Minister insists the changes are proportional.
“We have a long and enduring relationship, the US and Israel, based on a number of factors that include an intertwined history, but also that relate to shared principles in terms of the importance of democracy,” Ms Harris said.
Her comments came a day after Mr Biden said Israel “can’t continue down this road”.
US news site Axios reported that Mr Biden has earlier urged Mr Netanyahu to halt the reforms.
Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday was resolute. “Israel is a sovereign country that makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends,” he said.
The exchange contrasted the positive tone on relations given by US ambassador to Israel Tom Nides in interviews on Israeli networks before the US President’s comments.
While Mr Nides on Tuesday said that Mr Netanyahu might soon be invited to the White House, when asked by reporters about such a move, Mr Biden said: “No, not in the near term.”
Israel’s centrist opposition leader, Yair Lapid, tweeted: “For decades Israel was the closest of US allies.
“The country’s most extreme government ever ruined that in three months.”
Mr Biden has urged Mr Netanyahu to stop trying to fasttrack the legislation and make changes based on dialogue with all political factions.
Opposition and groups in the coalition government have begun consultations, but few details have emerged.
Addressing the US-led Summit for Democracy, Mr Netanyahu said the negotiators will “try to achieve a broad national consensus to achieve both goals”.
“I believe this is possible. We’re now engaged in exactly this conversation,” he added.
In another sign of business as usual, Yoav Gallant, whose dissent on the pace of the judicial overhaul prompted Mr Netanyahu to fire him as defence minister on Sunday, oversaw the launch of a new Israeli spy satellite on Wednesday.
Mr Gallant then posted a picture of himself hosting the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, a major defence partner of Israel.
Aides say Mr Gallant never received a formal dismissal letter and several members of the ruling coalition are reportedly lobbying for his reinstatement.
Israeli media reported that he was open to apologising publicly for the timing of his comments over the reforms on Saturday while not retreating on the substance of his warning. However, The Times of Israel reported that Mr Netanyahu had also met technology tycoon and former Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, who serves as Economy Minister but is seen as a potential replacement for Mr Gallant.
An aide to Mr Barkat said after the meeting that the tycoon would “take what the prime minister bestows upon him,” the report said.
Mr Gallant’s dismissal and the fury it caused underlined the concern among many in Israel that the crisis around the judicial reforms was opening up social divisions that were posing a serious risk to the country’s future. While the reforms are paused, there is still growing criticism from within the Israeli establishment.
At a conference on Wednesday, former chief of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency Tamir Pardo said the government was “acting irrationally”.
Ambiguity around Mr Gallant’s status exposed the country to “serious harm”, he added.
About 500 Israelis protested in Tel Aviv on Wednesday evening against an announcement to form a national guard under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
The far-right politician was previously convicted of anti-Arab incitement and backing a group considered by Israel and the US to be terrorists.
Mr Ben-Gvir this week said he had agreed to support the pause of the judicial overhaul if the guard is formed under his ministry – a move seen as giving him his own militia.
While the reforms are paused, there is still growing criticism from within the Israeli establishment