JERUSALEM, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu called on Tuesday for a dialogue with
opponents of his proposals to overhaul the judiciary which have
drawn mass protests and criticism from around the world.
Netanyahu has previously derided opponents of the proposals,
which would increase the power of politicians to appoint judges
and curb the power of the Supreme Court to overturn government
decisions, as embittered leftists who refuse to accept the
result of the last election.
But as opposition grew on Tuesday, a day after a preliminary
vote in parliament on part of the package, he offered to talk to
critics to reach a consensus.
"So I stand up and I call from here: Let's talk - here and
now - without preconditions," he said in a video statement
circulated on social media. "No excuses - so that together we
will achieve a broad agreement for the benefit of all the
citizens of Israel, for the benefit of our country."
The proposals, which Netanyahu has said are needed to curb
what he calls an activist judiciary that overreaches its
authority to interfere in politics, have drawn unusually open
criticism from the business sector and Israel's allies in
Washington.
On Tuesday, the shekel lost around 2% of its value as the
turmoil continued.
Tens of thousands have joined weekly protests against the
proposals, currently making their way through parliament, saying
they would destroy the checks and balances underpinning Israel's
democracy and hand near-unlimited power to the executive.
Opinion polls show a majority want the reforms slowed to
allow for dialogue with critics or shelved altogether.
Israel's head of state, President Isaac Herzog, has
repeatedly urged the government and opposition to hold
compromise talks, warning the country faces the risk of
"constitutional collapse" if the divisions continue.
But while both sides have voiced willingness, they have
remained far apart on the terms of any dialogue, with the
opposition calling for the legislation to be put on hold in
parliament before talks can begin.
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Israel shekel nears 3-year low as judicial overhaul spooks
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(Reporting by James Mackenzie in Jerusalem
Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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