Press Release

Jewish Dems Express Concern with Proposed Israeli Judicial Overhaul

February 22, 2023

WASHINGTON – As the Israeli Knesset considers legislation to overhaul Israel’s judicial system, and supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship raise concern, the Jewish Democratic Council of America released the following statement:

“JDCA is deeply committed to the unbreakable bonds between America and Israel. We also remain deeply committed to Israel’s security needs and right to self-defense.

“One of the pillars of our close bilateral ties is shared values, including our commitment to democracy and rule of law. It is because of our support for Israel’s future as a democratic state that JDCA shares the concerns expressed by President Biden, President Herzog, and some of Israel’s closest friends in Congress about Israel’s proposed judicial overhaul. While we respect Israel’s democracy, this proposal weakens Israel’s democratic institutions, undermining the independence of Israel’s judiciary and its system of checks and balances.

“We therefore urge the Israeli government to have meaningful deliberations about the serious implications of such actions. We also support President Herzog’s call for compromise to establish a broad consensus within Israeli society and with the opposition before moving forward.”

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