diplomacy
Israel’s President Herzog wants to reassure the United States
Israeli President Izchak Herzog speaks to the media outside the West Wing of the White House following a meeting with US President Biden. photo
© Jacquelyn Martin/AP/dpa
Again, concerns about democracy are driving tens of thousands of Israelis onto the streets. The plans of the Netanyahu government are also causing concern in the United States. The Israeli President tries to calm down.
Israeli President Izchak Herzog during a visit to the US seeks to allay closest ally’s concerns over highly controversial judicial reform. “Israeli democracy is solid, strong and resilient,” Herzog said against the background of the heated atmosphere in his country at a meeting with US President Joe Biden in the White House.
At the same time, he described the domestic political situation in Israel as a “crisis” from which he was looking for a way out. The visit to Washington coincided with a nationwide day of protests, on which tens of thousands of Israelis again took to the streets against the targeted weakening of the judiciary.
The controversial plans and generally the course of the right-wing religious government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have also become a stress test for relations between Israel and the USA. Biden assured Herzog that the friendship between the countries was “unbreakable”. However, Herzog’s reception also highlighted Biden’s strained relationship with Netanyahu.
The Israeli head of government – who has more far-reaching powers than the president with his primarily representative function – has been waiting for his inaugural visit to the White House for months. On Monday, the US government vaguely promised a meeting between Biden and Netanyahu in the US in the fall. At the same time, in addition to the judicial reform, she also expressed concerns about members of Netanyahu’s cabinet, which Biden had described as extreme a few days ago.
Judicial reform brings thousands to the streets again
Netanyahu’s coalition accuses the country’s independent judiciary of having too much influence on political decisions. In the coming week, an important part of the reform to restrict the Supreme Court is to be passed. Critics see the separation of powers and thus democracy in danger. Some even warn against the creeping introduction of a dictatorship.
Tens of thousands demonstrated again today as part of a “Day of Resistance” against the project. They took part in disruptive actions and rallies across the country. Several central streets and train stations were blocked. The organizers appealed to the US to use its influence and prevent the government from its controversial plans.
Warm words – difficult subjects
The US President welcomed his Israeli counterparts with warm words. “My love for Israel is deep-rooted and enduring,” Biden said before the behind-closed-door conversation. He praised progress in efforts to achieve more stability in the Middle East – but there is still a lot more to do. And he stressed his country’s “iron” commitment to Israel’s security. The United States supports Israel with billions of dollars in defense every year. However, the US government had made it clear before the meeting that Biden also wanted to talk to Herzog about the reform plans – and about the importance of shared democratic values.
Relations between Israel and the USA under scrutiny
In Israel, a comment by author Thomas L. Friedman in the “New York Times” recently caused a stir, entitled: “The reassessment of the Netanyahu government by the USA has begun”. In it, Friedman warns that the US government is increasingly concerned about Netanyahu’s policies and is reconsidering its previous relations with the country. Israeli commentators have expressed similar concerns.
“The fact that Netanyahu has not been in the White House since taking office and that Herzog has now been invited is a clear sign of this,” said Israeli political scientist Eldad Schawit. The fact that Biden and Netanyahu have now arranged a meeting does not ease the tensions between the two countries. “Biden has sent a clear signal to Netanyahu that something has to happen or there will be no meeting, and certainly not in the White House.”
While Netanyahu’s office discussed the invitation to the United States on Monday evening after what was described as a “long and heartfelt” conversation, the White House only confirmed when asked that there would “probably” be a meeting before the end of the year.
The communications director of the US National Security Council, John Kirby, also warned against overestimating the phone call and the planned meeting: Concerns about the judicial reform and “extremist actions” by some cabinet members have not diminished.
Israel’s government is pushing ahead with building settlements
Netanyahu’s coalition is the most right-wing in Israel’s history. Several ministers hold far-right views and are actively promoting settlement building in the occupied West Bank. According to the human rights organization Peace Now, since government took office, more new Israeli residential units have been approved there than at any time since records began in 2012. Biden is known to be an opponent of the Israeli settlement policy, which the government of his predecessor Donald Trump had supported.
Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War. Around 600,000 Israelis live there today in more than 200 settlements. The Palestinians claim the territories as part of their own state.