The White House said Sunday night it was “deeply concerned”? about the situation in Israel, where the defense minister was fired for calling for a halt to the justice reform plan, again urging the parties to seek a “compromise”.

“We are deeply concerned (…) by developments in Israel, which once again highlight the urgent need for compromise,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a press release issued by the US president.

“Democratic values ​​have always been and must remain the hallmark of US-Israeli relations,” he continued.

“Democratic societies are made stronger by separation of powers and mechanisms of control, and any fundamental change must have the widest possible popular support,” Ms. Watson added, echoing language used earlier this month after U.S. President Joe Biden briefed the Prime Minister. Israeli Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We continue to urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible. We believe this is the best path for Israel and all of its citizens,” the spokeswoman added.

Prime Minister Netanyahu on Sunday fired his government’s Defense Minister Yoav Galand, who a day earlier had called for a one-month suspension of the controversial judicial reform process the coalition wants. The development immediately brought thousands of protesters to the streets of Tel Aviv.

The current Netanyahu government, one of the most right-wing in Israel’s history, is seeking to strengthen parliament’s power over the judiciary through the reform it is promoting.

Critics of the reform say it threatens the democratic nature of the State of Israel and could lead to the overturning of a potential conviction for Mr. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption.

Source: RES-IPE