Netanyahu: Protests Against Judicial Reform are a Sign of Democracy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that "the protests against the judicial reform are a sign that the democratic process in Israel is as strong as it has always been." In an interview with CNN, Netanyahu rejected the claims from some protesters that democratic freedoms are under threat, pointing out that "the protests that have seen hundreds of thousands of Israelis take to the streets for 17 consecutive weeks against the plans are not a sign of democracy collapsing. They are a sign of the strength of public discourse, which I am working to resolve with as much consensus as possible." He added: "One thing I can guarantee is that by the end of this process, Israel, which has been a democracy, will remain a democracy, and it will continue to be a strong democracy." Explaining the judicial reform, Netanyahu said: "Israel has lost its balance," indicating that "the significant challenge is to restore it to an acceptable balance found in most democracies, without going to the side that could actually remove checks and balances on the power of the majority."