Netanyahu meets Olaf Scholz
Netanyahu meets Olaf ScholzHaim Tzach/GPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called President Isaac Herzog's judicial reform compromise outline a "major missed opportunity" while speaking to reporters in Berlin Thursday evening.

"This is not the 'People's Framework,' and I'm not even sure it's the framework of half the people," Netanyahu said.

“What was brought in front of the president from the coalition regarding the appointment of judges included a two-stage framework – an immediate fix to some extent and then balance afterwards. The president heard these things, and brushed them aside, unfortunately,” he added.

Netanyahu addressed the widespread protests in Israel against the judicial reforms, saying that he is “attentive to what is happening among the people,” he tells Israeli journalists, “but we have to bring something that matches the mandate we received, and we will do this responsibly.”

When asked about his meeting today with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as well as Scholz's request that he reconsider the judicial reforms, Netanyahu said that “the chancellor did not place any conditions on relations with Israel as a result of the judicial changes, especially not anything having to do with security ties.”

The leaders of the opposition parties held a press conference this evening praising President Herzog's outline.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said that the outline "is a fair compromise."

"We accept the president's outline because in a civil war, there will only be losers. Because, unlike the government, we have a sense of national responsibility. On the other hand, what Levin and Rothman are leading, is the end of the idea of a Jewish and democratic state,'' added Lapid.