Nides: US Working To Stop Israel From ‘Going Off The Rails’ With Judicial Overhaul

Departing from his position as the US Ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides has voiced concerns about the hardline approach of Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu’s government in pushing for judicial reforms, which has sparked widespread opposition and intensified anti-government protests.

Nides, in an interview with the Wall Street Journal before leaving his role, emphasized that the Biden administration is striving to prevent Israel from “going off the rails.” He acknowledged that Israelis desire the involvement of the United States in their affairs, but noted that this sometimes comes with a cost of speaking up when things seem to be veering off course.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Nides said he thinks “Israelis want the United States to be in their business. With that sometimes comes a modicum of a price, which is articulating when we think things are going off the rails.” Nides said he has told Netanyahu “to tap the brakes, slow down” with the legislative package in order to build broad consensus for the measures, and warned him against “rushing things through that ultimately could have huge implications, at least perception-wise, about what makes Israel great.”

Last month, the White House expressed concerns about the influence wielded by the right-wing faction of Netanyahu’s coalition, particularly in matters concerning settlements and judicial reforms. Three officials from the Biden administration acknowledged that Washington is not convinced that the longtime Likud leader is fully in control.

In response to the judicial overhaul efforts, President Joe Biden stated in late March that Netanyahu would not be visiting Washington in the near future, reflecting US frustration. Furthermore, Biden remarked that Netanyahu’s coalition comprises some of the most extreme members he has seen in Israel.

{Matzav.com}