Netanyahu is sticking to judicial reform.
He rejects warnings from the west.
There is also growing concern about tensions in the Middle East conflict.
Tel Aviv - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Joe Biden's call for the controversial judiciary reform to be abandoned.
The reform had led to massive protests across Israel.
Concerned about conditions similar to civil war, Netanyahu had announced that he would suspend the plans for a few weeks to "make room for dialogue".
But he doesn't seem to want to move away from the reform completely - despite the mass protests and warnings from the West.
Protests in Israel over judicial reform – Netanyahu rejects Biden
"Israel is a sovereign country that makes its decisions based on the will of its people and not on pressure from abroad, even from their best friends," the Guardian quoted
Netanyahu
as saying.
"I have known President Biden for over 40 years and appreciate his longstanding commitment to Israel." The alliance between Israel and the United States is unbreakable and "overcomes occasional disagreements."
After the situation in Israel had deteriorated because of the judicial reform, the USA called on Israel to compromise.
"We are deeply concerned about today's developments in Israel, which underscore the urgent need for a compromise," the White House said, according to
dpa
.
Biden warned Netanyahu to reporters that he "cannot continue down this path." "I hope he moves away from that," Biden said of the judicial reform plans.
President Netanyahu postpones plans for judicial reform - countries warn of "collapse"
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's decision to postpone his controversial judicial reform could fuel further tension in the Middle East conflict.
"The situation is further complicated by the fact that millions of Palestinians live under de facto Israeli military control in a lawless state," wrote the Czech newspaper
Pravo
on Wednesday (March 29, 2023).
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added fuel to the fire with his recent statement that there is no Palestinian people.
Israel may be at a critical point in its existence.
The newspaper also saw a "collapse of the state." Dutch newspaper
de Volkskrant
commented that pressure must continue to be exerted on Netanyahu to respect the rule of law and democracy.
The "National Guard" announced by Israel's Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir could be used as a thug against the Arab population.
Netanyahu sacks Defense Minister Galant, sparking mass protests across Israel
The reform of the judiciary should enable Parliament to overrule decisions of the Supreme Court by a simple majority.
Netanyahu's right-wing religious coalition accuses the Supreme Court of excessive interference in political decisions.
Parliament should also be able to change the composition of the body that appoints judges.
Secretary of Defense Joaw Galant was the most senior member of government to be critical of judicial reform.
On Saturday evening (March 25), the previous defense minister surprisingly called on his own government to engage in dialogue with critics of the judicial reform.
Galant warned that national security could be seriously damaged.
Netanyahu responded by firing him, triggering further mass protests in Israel.
(bohy/dpa)