“sad” characterized by White House the approval, from the israel parliament, of a measure considered “key” for its adoption reform of the judicial system promoted by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and which has been openly criticized by US President Joe Biden for many months.

“It is unfortunate that today’s approval was given by such a narrow majority,” White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said in a statement, reiterating Washington’s call for the Israeli government to seek “broader consensus” on the issue. “As a longtime friend of Israel, President Biden has stated, publicly and in private discussions, that major changes in a democracy, in order to last, must garner the broadest possible consensus,” the spokeswoman added.

The US, Israel’s main ally, “continues to support the efforts of the President of Israel (S. Y. Isaac Herzog) and other Israeli leaders” to find a common ground, continued the statement, which did not name Prime Minister Netanyahu. Biden welcomed Herzog to the White House last week.

The reform, promoted by Israel’s coalition government, aims to increase the powers of the elected government over those of the judiciary. The government considers it necessary to ensure a better balance of powers, but its opponents see it as a threat to democracy.

Biden told the Axios website on Sunday that the reform was “divisive.”

Israel

The amendment limiting Israel’s Supreme Court’s ability to overturn certain government decisions it deems “absurd” passed the Knesset by 64 votes to none, after opposition lawmakers walked out of the session in protest, with some shouting “Shame!”

Protests against the amendment had begun early, with police dragging away those who had chained themselves to poles and blocked the road outside parliament.

Israel

By late afternoon, protests were underway in cities across the country.

Minutes after the vote ended, a non-governmental organization and the leader of the centrist opposition announced they would appeal to the Supreme Court against the law.

Thousands of protesters who had flocked to Jerusalem flooded the highway near parliament and clashed with police, who eventually opened the road, using pressurized water to disperse the gathering. According to the Reuters agency, the police also sprayed those gathered with a foul-smelling substance.

The crisis has divided Israeli society, even reaching the army. Thousands of volunteer reservists are threatening not to show up for duty if the government goes ahead with its plan.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin appeared undeterred by the protests. “We have taken a first step in the historic, important process of fixing the judicial system and restoring the powers that have been usurped by the government and the Knesset,” he said in a speech where he appeared to ignore repeated calls from Washington for a compromise solution.

“This government can win the battle, but not the war,” commented opposition leader Yair Lapid.

A forum that includes about 150 of Israel’s largest companies has announced it is going on strike. Azrieli and Big, two of the largest shopping centers in the country, announced that the stores housed in their premises will remain closed.