(Niamey) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says any major reform needs ‘consensus’ as Israel is rocked by massive protests over a controversial bill by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to limit prerogatives of the Supreme Court.
Achieving “consensus is the best way forward” in Israel’s “very vibrant democracy”, Blinken said in an interview with AFP late Thursday evening in Niamey, where he was visiting.
Since the announcement of the reform project in early January by one of the most right-wing governments in the history of Israel, massive demonstrations have taken place every week in the country, to denounce an anti-democratic drift, according to its detractors.
This judicial reform project aims to limit the prerogatives of the Supreme Court and divides the country.
“One thing we’ve learned from our own experience as a democracy is that when you’re looking to make big changes — big reforms — to your laws, to your institutions, consensus is perhaps the most important thing. important,” Mr. Blinken added.
Consensus is key to “making sure you have something that’s not only accepted, but will also last,” he said.
Netanyahu’s far-right new government has proposed major reforms that include allowing lawmakers to overrule Supreme Court rulings by simple majority vote.
Tens of thousands of people have since taken to the streets and Israeli President Isaac Herzog has warned of the risk of a “civil war”.
Some critics say Netanyahu is pushing for reforms to protect himself as he battles corruption charges.
