Israeli justice minister accuses US of supporting anti-judicial overhaul protesters

By Enes Canli

JERUSALEM (AA) - Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin has accused the US administration of cooperating with Israeli protesters against his government’s judicial overhaul plan.

The Hebrew Walla website released a video Monday of Levin saying during a meal Sunday evening with ultra-Orthodox activists that "the Americans are working in cooperation with them against (judicial reform)."

Levin was also heard saying that the protest movement has “total control over the press” and has a say over the courts, the Attorney General’s Office and “the entire financial system and the US administration which cooperates with them.”

He stressed that he is ready to fight for judicial overhaul and that unity in the Likud party’s ranks is important for this and accused the opposition of "not willing to compromise" at the negotiation table hosted by President Isaac Herzog.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s son Yair previously accused the US administration of secretly supporting demonstrations to overthrow his father.

US authorities refuted the accusation, however.

"Any notion that we are propping up or supporting these protests or the initiators of them is completely and demonstratively false," said State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel.

Israel has been in political turmoil over the past few weeks over plans by the Netanyahu government for judicial reforms.

The Israeli opposition views the plans as a power grab in favor of the executive authority

Netanyahu, however, insists that his plans would enhance democracy and restore the balance among the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.

Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, bowed to pressure and announced a temporary halt to the plans. Despite the delay, the government still plans to bring the controversial bill back to the Knesset (parliament) in May.