US President Joe Biden on Wednesday advised the government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “to take his time” with reforms, as tens of thousands of Israelis have been demonstrating in Israel every week for several months against a project to change the judicial system, according to France Presse and Agerpres.

In an unusually direct criticism of the domestic policies of one of America’s closest allies, the White House leader told a columnist for the New York Times that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should tread carefully.

“It’s clear that this is an issue that Israelis feel very strongly about, especially with this persistent movement of demonstrations that demonstrate the dynamism of democracy in Israel and that must remain at the center of our bilateral relationship,” Joe Biden was quoted as saying in an editorial by Thomas Friedman , published on Wednesday.

“Finding a consensus on politically controversial topics takes time. This is important in case of major changes. Therefore, I recommend that the leaders of Israel take their time with reform, insisted Joe Biden.

“I believe that the best way out (of the impasse) is to continue the search for consensus as widely as possible,” the American president added.

Carefully targeted comments

The comments are a rare example of a Democratic president giving an interview to the print media, but they seem carefully targeted, given the audience Thomas Friedman enjoys in diplomatic circles and particularly those dealing with US-Israel relations.

The reform of the judicial system, pushed hard by the Israeli government, one of the most right-wing in the country’s history, aims to strengthen the power of elected representatives over the power of magistrates.

The anti-reform protest movement has brought tens of thousands of people to the streets every week in Israel since January.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who is mostly in a protocol role but is seen as a more consensual figure than Benjamin Netanyahu, is currently visiting the United States. On Tuesday, he met with Joe Biden in Washington, and on Wednesday he is scheduled to deliver a speech before the US Congress.

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