Netanyahu cancels appearance at major US Jewish conference: Report
Anti-judicial overhaul demonstrators made preparations ahead of the conference to prevent the Israeli PM from entry via roadblocks and protests
By
News Desk
– April 23 2023
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(Photo Credit: Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)
According to a report by Israeli news outlet Haaretz, in an unexpected move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his scheduled appearance at the upcoming annual Jewish Federations of North America conference on 24 April, following mass protests against his controversial judicial reforms.
The conference is typically the largest meeting of North American Jewish leaders on an annual basis. Historically, Israeli prime ministers have always participated in the event.
The Haaretz report also indicated that influential leaders involved in the anti-judicial overhaul demonstrations in Israel planned major disruptions for the conference in an attempt to prevent Netanyahu from entry, including roadblocks and protests in the auditorium where the Israeli prime minister was set to speak.
Participating Jewish figures were advised to arrive early at the conference ahead of Netanyahu’s planned arrival to avoid roadblocks.
According to a new poll conducted by Israeli Channel 12 and released on 21 April, when asked about the future of the State of Israel, “51 percent said they were pessimistic, while only 43 percent were optimistic and 6 percent said they did not know,” Times of Israel reported.
Another poll released the same day by Israeli public broadcaster Kan revealed that 48 percent of Israelis believe their situation “will be worse in the coming years,” while only 20 percent said that things would improve.
If Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul is fully implemented, it will limit the authority of Tel Aviv’s judiciary, allowing Netanyahu’s coalition government to handpick judges that are typically aligned with the government’s rhetoric.
As a result of the judicial overhaul plan, which Israelis see as a threat to their democracy, widespread civil discontent and unrest have plagued Israel. While the overhaul has been postponed until next month, tension remains high – and has even spread into the military establishment, as hundreds of army reservists have not returned for duty.
This unprecedented discontent has prompted many Israelis to apply for foreign passports, which symbolizes longstanding fears that turmoil in Israel could lead to a ‘reverse Aliyah,’ or a mass exodus of Jews from Israel to other parts of the globe (the opposite of early 20th century, mass immigration which led to the state’s formation).
Keywords
Benjamin Netanyahu
Jewish Federations of North America conference
judicial overhaul
