The United States followed Germany in urging Israel reform its judicial system through consensus rather than fast tracking it though the Knesset solely with the support of the coalition.
“Finding that consensus is the best path forward,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday in a brief interview he gave to the AFP.
“I think the one thing that we know from our own experiences as democracies is that when you’re looking to make big changes, major reforms in your laws, your institutions, consensus is maybe the most important thing in making sure that you have something that’s not only accepted but that it also will last, is durable,” Blinken said. He had issued a similar statement about the importance of consensus when he visited Israel in February.
Blinken spoke just one day after Israeli President Isaac Herzog proposed a compromise solution, that would allow for the reform to be done through consensus.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby also backed Herzog.
Netanyahu rejects Herzog's outline
”We support President Herzog's efforts to find a solution that is in line with the shared democratic values of Israel and the United States, such as checks and balances and the independence of the judicial system," said White House national security spokesman John Kirby.
Netanyahu said the plan was insufficient and rejected it, just before heading to Berlin. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged him to accept Herzog’s compromise during a joint press conference on Thursday.
“Herzog submitted proposals to solve this situation, and as a friend of Israel, we would hope you would consider these proposals,” Scholz said.
He also repeated the message in a tweet he issued on Thursday stating, “It is good that we have taken the time to talk, my dear @Netanyahu.
“We are following the debate on the judicial reforms in Israel with grave concern. An independent judiciary is a precious commodity in any democracy. It is important to seek a broad social consensus,” he said.
Netanyahu assured Scholz that the reform plan would not harm Israel’s status as a liberal democracy.
Omri Nahmias contributed to this report.