US Vice President Kamala Harris again called on Israel to ensure the independence of its judiciary, sparking Israeli criticism on Wednesday after months of protests against judicial reforms aimed at by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Ms. Harris spoke Tuesday at the gala hosted by the Israeli Embassy to mark the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel’s Declaration of Independence at a Washington museum.
The vice president pledged to demonstrate “an unwavering commitment to Israel’s security,” alluding to Mr Netanyahu’s judicial reform.
“Under President Joe Biden and our administration, America will continue to uphold the values that have been the foundation of the relationship between the United States and Israel, including the continued consolidation of our democracy,” she said.
Both countries’ values are based “on strong institutions, mutual violence and, I might add, an independent judiciary,” Harris said.
“If you ask her what bothers her about the reform, she won’t be able to talk about a single clause that bothers her,” Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said in a radio interview with the Israeli public on Wednesday during his Stay in South Korea.
“Israeli judicial reform is a domestic matter that is being studied and debated,” he said, assuming Ms Harris had not read the text, and “the State of Israel will continue to be democratic and liberal as it has always been.” “
Inseparable connection
According to the Israeli government, one of the most far-right in the country’s history, one of the aims of reforming the judicial system is to rebalance power relations by reducing the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, which the executive branch deems politicized, in favor of the Supreme Court become of Parliament.
In particular, however, its critics believe that this risks paving the way for authoritarianism.
After large demonstrations against this reform project, Mr. Netanyahu – also accused of corruption in a number of cases – announced a “pause” at the end of March to give the dialogue a “chance (…)”, but the mobilization did not materialize run out of breath.
Mr. Biden felt that the Israeli government “cannot continue down this path” and hoped the government would “abandon” this reform.
Ms Harris also reiterated her support for an independent Palestinian state, saying Israelis and Palestinians should “enjoy equal freedom, equal prosperity and equal democracy.”
At this gala, Mrs. Harris was accompanied by her husband, Doug Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a President or Vice President of the United States.
“Today, under the leadership of President Joe Biden, the United States has an unbreakable bond with the State of Israel,” she said.