FM Cohen Defends Judiciary from VP Harris’s Criticism
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris made a critical comment concerning Israel’s judicial reform during a celebration of Israel’s 75th anniversary in Washington, D.C. She said, “America will continue to stand for the values that have been the bedrock of the US-Israel relationship, which includes continuing to strengthen our democracies, which … are both built on strong institutions, checks, and balances, and I’ll add: an independent judiciary.”
Concerning Harris’s comment, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen responded, “I believe that she didn’t even read it. If you ask her what about the reform troubles her, she wouldn’t be able to name one clause. I have heard such comments in places I’ve visited, and I asked, ‘What exactly bothers you?’ No one could put their finger on it.”
Cohen later tweeted, “I have deep respect for our ally the United States of America and for Vice President Harris, a true friend of Israel. Israel’s legal reform is an internal issue that is currently in the process of consolidation and dialogue. The State of Israel will continue to be democratic and liberal, as it has always been.”
Harris’s comment and Cohen’s response demonstrate that Israel does not take kindly to external powers trying to influence their internal politics—nor should they. If foreign countries began telling the U.S. how our Supreme Court should operate, our government would laugh the critics right out of the building. So let’s let Israel handle its own political structure instead of taking shots at it. The fewer external voices trying to influence Israel’s decisions, the sooner they’re likely to finish sorting out the judicial reform legislation.
