Minister of Science and Technology, Likud MK, Ofir Akunis, said Israel's democracy is not in danger despite wide-scale protests against proposed legal reforms.
"Israeli democracy is not in danger! The truth is that in the world, there are few countries as democratic, as stable, and as resilient as Israel," he wrote, adding: "Investors, entrepreneurs, and business people from around the world: Continue investing in Israel! In hi-tech, innovation, in our groundbreaking scientific ventures, and in all the industries of our outstanding knowhow."
Earlier this week, Channel 12 News reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed a message of reassurance to the US administration regarding plans to reform the judicial system.
According to the report, during his meeting last week with US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Netanyahu said that "as far as I’m concerned, the legal reform will pass with broad consensus, it will not pass as it is presented now."
Sullivan told Netanyahu about the administration's concerns over the reform as it was presented to the American officials. "The liberal-democratic public and we as an administration do not like the direction you are going in with regard to the legal reform. If there is a violation of democratic values, it will make it difficult for us to provide unwavering and unqualified support to Israel," he said, according to the report.
The report further said that the advisor made clear to Netanyahu that the US administration sees him as a leader after he promised that he would lead the government "with both hands on the wheel".
Meanwhile, Channel 13 News reported on Sunday that the US Ambassador to Israel, Tom Nides, has in recent weeks held several meetings with Israeli officials, among other things with current politicians, regarding the proposed reforms.
In one of the meetings held about two weeks ago, which also dealt with security aspects, Nides expressed a great interest in understanding the latest government moves, and according to one of those present in the room, he said there that "Israel's internal moves are its own business."
Justice Minister Yariv Levin has initiated efforts to advance a series of legal reforms, transforming Israel's legal system.
Among the changes are a reform of the committee which selects judges to remove the majority of judges and lawyers which currently dominate the committee. Two of the lawyers on the committee will be replaced with a representative of the government and a representative of the Knesset. This reform would somewhat reduce the power of the justices to choose their fellow judges, transfering that power to the other branches of government.
The power of a majority of 61 MKs in the Knesset will be expanded, and the Supreme Court will be precluded from striking down a Basic Law, which function as an ad hoc constitution for the State of Israel.
In addition, the "reasonability standard," by which the court can strike down laws and ministerial actions on the basis of their being arbitrary or 'unreasonable,' will be abolished.