Israel: Blinken says any major reform requires ‘consensus’

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken says ‘consensus’ is needed for any major reform Israel Hill from mass protests over a controversial bill by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit the court’s privileges to the Supreme Court Has gone.

In Israel’s “very vibrant democracy” “consensus is the best way forward,” Blinken said in an interview with AFP late Thursday in Niamey.

Since the reform project was announced in early January by one of the most right-wing governments in Israel’s history, the country has held mass demonstrations every week to denounce an anti-democracy drift, according to its opponents.

This judicial reform project aims to limit the prerogatives of the Supreme Court and divide the country.

“As a democracy we have learned from our experience that when you want to make major changes – major reforms – to your laws, your institutions, consensus is probably what is most important,” Mr Blinken said.

Consent is “key to making sure you have something that is not only accepted, but will last,” he said.

Netanyahu’s new far-right government has proposed major reforms, including allowing lawmakers to overturn Supreme Court rulings with a simple majority.

Tens of thousands of people have since taken to the streets and Israeli President Isaac Herzog warned of the risk of “civil war”.

Some critics say Netanyahu is pushing for reforms to protect himself while fighting corruption charges.