Labor party leader Merav Michaeli has received calls of support from leaders of social democratic parties from around the world, after the Knesset passed the bill to cancel the reasonableness standard into law, she wrote on Twitter on Friday.
Michaeli wrote in her Twitter account that "Over the last few days I have received calls from leaders of social democratic parties around the world, expressing their support. Good friends of Israel are deeply worried about the regime coup happening here right now."
She went on to write: "Sister social democratic parties around the world, with whom we in Labor are in ongoing contact, are offering help and expertise and, more than anything, solidarity with liberal forces in Israel. As leader of the Labor Party I see huge importance in strengthening ties with democratic forces around the world for the good of liberal and democratic Israel."
On July 24, the Knesset passed the bill which marked the first part of the government’s contentious judicial reform to pass into law after six months of fierce public debate and negotiations on a possible compromise that continued until the last minute.
The bill was passed despite the opposition boycott
The opposition boycotted the vote, after Michaeli and other opposition leaders had called for a boycott of the vote.
בימים האחרונים אני מקבלת שיחות תמיכה ממנהיגות ומנהיגים סוציאל דמוקרטים ברחבי העולם. ידידים טובים של ישראל דואגים מאוד נוכח ההפיכה המשטרית המתרחשת בימים אחה. מפלגות אחיות, סוציאל דמוקרטיות, ברחבי העולם איתן אנו נמצאים בקשר רציף במפלגת העבודה מציעות עזרה וידע ובעיקר סולידריות עם… pic.twitter.com/NTYVSuPP2d
— Merav Michaeli מרב מיכאלי (@MeravMichaeli) July 28, 2023
The EU criticized the passing of the bill on Tuesday, saying that “The EU takes note of the vote on the reasonableness bill. Similarly to the thousands of demonstrators, the EU is concerned that this bill would limit the Supreme Court’s ability to conduct judicial reviews of government decisions and thus weaken its role and judicial oversight.”
Brussels expressed hope for a compromise between political parties on the matter.
Eliav Breuer and Lahav Harkov contributed to this story.