Former Israeli Officials Call for U.S. Intervention Against Judicial Reforms

Three former senior Israeli officials have called for the Biden administration to intervene by applying pressure similar to that used against apartheid South Africa, and to support opposition efforts against the proposed "judicial reforms" in Israel. According to The Hill newspaper, Ami Ayalon, Gilead Sher, and Orni Petrushka stated that the United States and others should demonstrate "toughness and indifference" in their relations with the Israeli government after the first part of the reform program in the judicial system was approved, in order to compel the Israeli government to maintain its democratic system. The Hill reported that these three former Israeli officials said that Israelis, especially Benjamin Netanyahu, should learn the consequences of pursuing a path that "significantly diverges from our shared values with the United States," and the Biden administration should make this clear. They also added: "Members of Congress should be the same. To have a special relationship based on shared values, you must actually share values." Ami Ayalon, former head of the Israeli Navy and former head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), Gilead Sher, former chief negotiator for Israel during Ehud Barak's premiership, and Orni Petrushka, an entrepreneur in Israel's high-tech sector, are all members of the opposition protest movement. The United States imposed extensive sanctions against South Africa in 1986, which prevented new trade and investment in that country. Additionally, the cessation of direct flights increased the international isolation of the country. Ultimately, De Klerk acted in 1991 to end the regime in South Africa. The first part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed bill to reform the powers of the judiciary was approved by Israeli lawmakers on Monday, July 24. The vote in the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, took place amid a complete boycott by the opposition and repeated warnings from allies, including the U.S., but all 64 lawmakers from Netanyahu's coalition voted in favor of the bill. The Biden administration has repeatedly expressed its opposition to these actions and has urged the Israeli government not to advance the laws without achieving broad consensus on these measures. The opposition leader has called on Netanyahu to halt efforts for "judicial reforms" for 18 months. An Israeli lawmaker stated that establishing relations with Saudi Arabia is not seen in the short-term horizon. Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he will connect Israel and Saudi Arabia by train. The Israeli army warned Netanyahu that Iran and Hezbollah view the judicial reforms as a "historic opportunity." A secret meeting of senior officials from the Islamic Republic and Hamas regarding the crisis in Israel has also taken place. Doctors and medical staff in Israel have gone on strike.