David Friedman, former US Ambassador to Israel and an ally of former President Donald Trump, has confirmed his opposition to the judicial overhaul being pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Friedman’s opposition was revealed in an Axios report, where he pushed back on one of the overhaul’s key architects, Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman’s claims that the proposals would make Israel more like the US. During a private session of a conference organized by conservative think tanks, Friedman said, “You compare this to the US, but it doesn’t work like that in our system,” drawing applause from many in the room. He also singled out the “override clause,” which would let the government re-legislate laws struck down by the courts. Friedman added that in the US, the courts exist to protect minority rights, and the override clause will prevent the Israeli courts from doing the same. Speaking to The Times of Israel, Friedman said that his concerns were made “respectfully” and were part of an “attempt to find common ground.” He added that protecting “minority rights are an important aspect of the US government and should be for any government.” Friedman’s comments come at a time when Netanyahu’s government is facing criticism for its efforts to change Israel’s judicial system. The proposed overhaul would give politicians greater control over the appointment of judges and limit the power of the Supreme Court. Critics say that the changes would undermine Israel’s democratic values and weaken the judiciary’s independence. Supporters argue that the overhaul is necessary to rein in the power of the courts, which they say has become too great. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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