During his brief visit, the Prime Minister was also confronted with criticism of the controversial judicial reform. The hosts perform a diplomatic balancing act. But there is a glimmer of sympathy for President Herzog’s proposed compromise.
As is often the case with Olaf Scholz, it was unclear why he wore a wide smile on his face. Perhaps because Benjamin Netanyahu also flashed a demonstrative smile as he assured Israel will remain a “strong, vibrant, liberal democracy”? Alongside the German chancellor, the head of the Israeli government emphasized at a press conference at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin that his government will seek the separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judiciary with the highly controversial judicial reform “as in other western countries as well”.
In Israel there is an imbalance in the power structure due to the Supreme Court’s right of veto. The reform will strengthen even democracy, Netanyahu said. Israel’s prime minister once again portrayed himself in Berlin as an excellent media professional who ignored the massive protests at home and the smaller demonstration in the German capital, where Brandenburg Gate slogans echoed throughout the government district.