Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded strongly to US President Joe Biden’s statement that he should withdraw from the controversial judiciary reform. Netanyahu tweeted that Israel makes its own decisions and does not give in to external pressure.
During a visit to North Carolina, Biden demanded that the Israeli government withdraw from the judicial reform plan. He was talking to reporters. Biden added that he is concerned about the issue for all those who strongly support Israel and hopes the prime minister will take conciliatory steps. Benny Grants, the leader of Israel’s National Unity Party, said that Israel will not give in to the pressure of its closest friends. The injury to our closest friend and ally, the US, will backfire, he said on Twitter.
The United States has not yet invited Netanyahu to visit the country since he became prime minister again. When reporters asked Biden about this the other day, the response was that the invitation will not come soon. President Isaac Herzog asked Netanyahu to suspend the judicial reform for the time being as the popular uprising in Israel escalated. The President also warned that the Prime Minister’s move would endanger the country’s security and economy. The President’s statement came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Galant who made similar demands. Justice Minister Yariv Levin has put forward a law reform that would give the power to overturn Supreme Court judgments using a majority in Parliament. As part of this, the Israeli parliament passed a law yesterday prohibiting the dismissal of the prime minister except for mental health reasons.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS: Netanyahu rejects Biden’s call to drop Israeli judicial overhaul