Statement seems to be change of course for the former ambassador, who until recently voiced opposition to American criticism of the bill.
Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman took to Twitter on Sunday to express opposition to the Israeli government’s push to pass legislation to reform its judicial system.
“Given the striking parallels between Israel’s current internal rift and the infighting that caused the destruction of the Second Temple 2000 years ago, why would the Israeli Government proceed with its Judicial Reform bill on the eve of Tisha B’Av? Very bad timing,” the former ambassador wrote, referring to the destruction of the second Jewish temple, which occurred on the 9th of the month of Av which falls out this Thursday.
Friedman’s statement can be seen as a change of course for the former ambassador, who until recently voiced opposition to American voices criticizing the contentious bill. Two weeks ago, in a response to a Tweet by US representative Jerry Nadler in which he expressed express my profound concerns with what he called “Israel’s governing coalition’s anti-democratic judicial overhaul plans,” Friedman wrote: “Israel is trying to recalibrate the relationship between the parliament and the court, an issue raised and run on by the elected coalition government. In response to public outcry, it pulled back and has limited its first round of reforms to an issue with which the overwhelming majority of Israelis agree and which aligns it much more closely with the American judiciary. Instead of being a friend and encouraging Israel to find the right balance, this guy is just playing to his woke constituency at Israel’s expense. Some ally!”
The public controversy over the judicial reform legislation has been escalating of late, with many IDF reservists announcing that they will discontinue their service in protest of the move.
This article reads as if Friedman is just addressing this issue now, or that perhaps he is changing a previous position on this topic. In fact, he has been against the Judicial Reform for many months now.
Friedman is correct. No good will come of proceeding now. I am not strictly religious but it almost becoming a self fulfilling prophecy.
I have no idea why former Ambassador Friedman would weigh in at this time to say something that sounds like pure superstition. Yes this is near Tisha B’Av, and yes the temple fell at this time of year. That was then, this is now. People who have lived through trauma have to differentiate between the trauma of the past and present events that may seem like they are the same thing.
The American Jews who are criticizing Israelis for trying to make their democracy work like any other democracy in the world are expressing hostility and being hypocritical. It’s okay for America to have a Supreme Court whose justices are chosen by politicians but it’s not okay for Israel to do the same? Somehow when Israel does it it’s a threat to democracy?
We all know what it’s called when you hold Israel to a standard that no other democracy is held to.
Or is Mr. Friedman saying it’s okay to have a Supreme Court like the one in the US and in other democracies, just wait until after Tisha B’Av?
Mr. Friedman recently criticized the Biden Administration for siding with BDS in their decision not to work with Israeli scientists over the 1949 armistice line. He criticized the Biden administration for not being willing to work with the elected Prime Minister of Israel.
In general Mr. Friedman has been supportive of Israel and of the concept of peace through strength.
So this sudden turnaround and criticism of the Netanyahu government is difficult to understand. Perhaps he was threatened by the Biden mafia (aka the US surveillance state).
Nevertheless, when you take unpopular positions, you find out who your real friends are.
As long as Israel feels the need to win a popularity contest with the Biden administration, or with former Ambassadors, Israel cannot succeed in her goals for a thriving and peaceful country. The Biden administration has no vision for Israel other than a country destroyed.