Israel’s PM Netanyahu upbeat about reforms overhaul compromise after President Biden reproach
- Addressing the US-led Summit for Democracy, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his reason for the reforms could be reconciled with civil liberties
- Comments came a day after President Biden said Israel ‘can’t continue down this road’, referring to protests that swept the country and penetrated its military
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced confidence on Wednesday that he would find compromise with the political opposition over his judicial overhaul after the contested reforms drew a strong reproach from US President Joe Biden.
Israel “can’t continue down this road”, Biden told reporters on Tuesday in reference to unprecedented protests that have swept the country and penetrated its military, spurring Netanyahu’s defence chief to break ranks and call for a halt.
The conservative Israeli leader did press the pause button on Monday to allow for negotiations with opposition parties.
Addressing the US-led Summit for Democracy, he said his stated reason for the reforms – balancing the branches of Israeli government – could be reconciled with civil liberties.
The negotiators, he said, will “try to achieve a broad national consensus to achieve both goals. And I believe this is possible. We’re now engaged in exactly this conversation”.
Opposition parties spanning the political spectrum have accused Netanyahu – who is on trial on corruption charges – of seeking to curb judicial independence. He denies any wrongdoing.