US Welcomes Pause in Israeli Judicial Reform Plan: White House

Demonstrators come out in support of Israel's nationalist coalition government and its plans for a judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem, on March 27, 2023. Ammar Awad/REUTERS

The United States welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement on March 27 that Israel will halt its attempt at judicial reform until the next legislative session, which will be after Passover.

In Israel, Passover starts on April 5 and ends on April 12 (April 13 outside of Israel).

“We welcome this announcement as an opportunity to create additional time and space for compromise,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during the press briefing.

“Compromise is precisely what we have been calling for. And we continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible.

“We believe that it is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens.

“Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support. And so that’s what we’re going to continue to call for.”

Jean-Pierre’s words came just moments after Netanyahu announced the suspension of his efforts to change Israel’s judiciary.

“I am taking a timeout in the legislation of the judicial reform,” he said.

“In order to prevent a rift in our people, I have decided to suspend the vote on the second and third reading of the legislation in the current Knesset session, in order to try and reach an understanding on the legislation during the next Knesset session.”

Netanyahu pledged to “bring a reform that will restore the balance between the different branches of government while strengthening civil liberties.”

Massive protests were happening in Israel in response to the proposed changes and after Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, who voiced opposition to the reform efforts, on March 26.

The United States expressed concern about the protests.

“As the president recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been and must remain a hallmark of the U.S.–Israel relationship,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a March 26 statement.

“We continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible. We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. U.S. support for Israel’s security and democracy remains ironclad.”

Israel’s proposed judicial reform would allow the government to appoint judges and for the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, to overturn Supreme Court decisions.

Netanyahu has been criticized for attempting the reform in order to shield himself from legal liability as he’s under indictment in multiple corruption scandals.

The State Department echoed the White House’s reaction.

The department’s principal deputy spokesperson, Vedant Patel, denied allegations that the Biden administration has been funding the protests through a nongovernmental organization called The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, calling them “completely and demonstrably false.”

Israel’s embassy in Washington has reopened, according to its spokesperson, Elad Strohmayer.