Netanyahu comes to Berlin: state visit under “heavy shadow”

Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected in Berlin today – a visit that has provoked criticism. Because the judicial reform pushed by the Israeli government has been the cause of massive protests in the country for weeks.

Even before Israel’s head of government has even boarded the plane, there is criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned state visit to Germany – he arrives today, meets Chancellor Olaf Scholz tomorrow, and leaves again on Friday. Because Netanyahu is not only provoking massive resistance in his own country with the judicial reform he is aiming for.

In a letter to the ambassadors of Germany and Great Britain in Tel Aviv, around 1,000 Israeli artists, writers and academics called on the governments of both countries to cancel Netanyahu’s scheduled visits, the Haaretz newspaper reported. According to the media, Netanyahu is expected to pay a state visit to London in March after his trip to Berlin.

The authors of the letters warned that Israel is currently in “the most serious crisis in its history” and “on the way from a vibrant democracy to a theocratic dictatorship”. They accused Netanyahu of “dangerous and destructive leadership.” He and his right-wing, religiously oriented government used their legislation to dismantle state institutions. Therefore, Germany and Great Britain would have to cancel Netanyahu’s planned state visits immediately, otherwise they would be cast by a “heavy shadow”.

The Federal Foreign Office has not yet commented on these demands. The authority only confirmed that the letter had been received by the German embassy in Tel Aviv.

Protests in Israel have been going on for weeks

In Israel, there have been repeated mass protests for around ten weeks, directed against Netanyahu’s government and primarily against the planned judicial reform. The amendments to the law should enable the country’s parliament to overrule decisions of the Supreme Court with a simple majority. Government critics see this as a threat to the separation of powers and thus to the democratic principles in Israel.

On Monday evening, Parliament voted in first reading for a particularly controversial part of the reform, which is intended to make it much more difficult for the body to declare a prime minister incapacitated. In the future, that would only be possible with a three-quarters majority among MPs if the amendment were to be approved in two further readings. According to Israeli media, the government intends to push through all core elements of the judicial reform in fast-track procedures before the end of this month.

Opponents of the reform also demonstrated in front of a house belonging to a member of parliament in Tel Aviv on Monday evening. At the same time, government supporters gathered for a counter-demonstration.

Israel’s president opposes reform plans

The Israeli government’s reform plans have also been criticized by the highest political authorities. The country’s President, Isaac Herzog, publicly opposed the planned legislative changes last week and called on Netanyahu’s government to halt its efforts to push through the reform.

Also on Monday, in view of the growing tensions, Herzog warned that his country was “in a bad, very bad situation”, which could have serious social, economic, diplomatic and security consequences. The dispute over judicial reform is leading to an “internal struggle that is tearing us apart.”

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier had already expressed concern about the “planned restructuring of the rule of law” by the Israeli government.

Netanyahu a “normal guest in Germany”

And yet, in addition to the meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a talk with Steinmeier is also on Netanyahu’s agenda for Thursday. The talks between Scholz and Israel’s Prime Minister are to take place in Berlin over a “working lunch”, as government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced. Core issues are international and regional security issues. Iran and its alleged enrichment of uranium suitable for nuclear weapons will probably also play a role.

With a view to the growing criticism of the state visit, Hebestreit emphasized that Netanyahu is the “elected Prime Minister of Israel and therefore also a normal guest in Germany”. Israel’s security continues to be a German reason of state, regardless of who governs the country.

But Hebestreit also conceded that the federal government was “fundamentally convinced” that “any change to a constitution must be discussed carefully.” But this is “first and foremost a matter for the Israelis”.

In Berlin, the police are already preparing for the state visit. According to the police union, around 3,000 people will be on duty from Wednesday to Friday morning. According to the dpa news agency, the police are expecting protests. The highest level of security will be imposed. Many roads are to be closed.