ALBAWABA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to hold talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a visit to Berlin overshadowed by political turmoil at home.
Netanyahu arrived in Berlin Wednesday, despite attempts of his opponents to obstruct the trip due to the judicial reforms the Israeli government intends to carry out.
Live Update: Following Rome trip, Netanyahu slated to visit Germany https://t.co/LfmAusicTO via @timesofisrael
— drdivine (@drdivine) March 5, 2023
Netanyahu was scheduled separate meetings with the German chancellor and president on Thursday.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholtz is expected to express concerns about the Israeli government’s plan to weaken the Supreme Court during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tomorrow, two German officials told @BarakRavid. https://t.co/5EdXuPPQhn
— Axios (@axios) March 15, 2023
It is expected that the prime minister will hold talks with Steinmeier and Scholz on bilateral cooperation as well as international and regional security issues, primarily the threat Iran's nuclear program poses to Israel. During electioneering late last year, Netanyahu pledged to hamper it.
Underlining security concerns, German authorities cordoned off the area where Netanyahu was staying.
3,000 German police secure Netanyahu's visit
German media outlets said more than 3,000 German police have been deployed to ensure Netanyahu's safety.
Ahead of Netanyahu visit, German president voices concern about judicial overhaul https://t.co/phGWmvhSXF
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) March 11, 2023
Netanyahu's visit exposed the German government to pressure, German media outlets said. Netanyahu's opponents had asked Berlin to cancel the visit.
A number of Israelis living in Berlin called for a demonstration on Thursday, to protest the visit.
Security concerns
Recently, a statement by Netanyahu's office announced the reduction of the duration of the premier's visit to Germany. Whereas after he was scheduled to stay in Berlin until Friday, the Israeli Prime Minister will return to his country after the meetings on Thursday.
סעיפים מרכזיים במתווה שהציג הנשיא הרצוג רק מנציחים את המצב הקיים ולא מביאים את האיזון הנדרש לרשויות בישראל. pic.twitter.com/qvx5QxbuNy
— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 15, 2023
Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in different parts of Israel nearly two months ago to protest a draft law to amend the judicial system. The law gives Netanyahu's Cabinet more powers over the judiciary by dismantling checks on the executive branch, including through curbing judicial oversight of the government’s and parliament’s actions.
About 1,000 Israeli writers, authors and academics have called on Germany and Britain to rescind their invitations to Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and cancel his scheduled visit to the two European countries. pic.twitter.com/uBaWHGDLpe
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) March 15, 2023
On Wednesday, Israelis opposed to the judicial reform staged a protest in an attempt to obstruct Netanyahu's travel.
The storm over Israel's planned judicial overhaul has escalated. The protests against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu are intensifying. The situation is so bad that Netanyahu has been forced to delay his visit to Germany. Watch video!https://t.co/HVM3ud3rrN
— WION (@WIONews) March 16, 2023
Don't come back Netanyahu
The demonstrators chanted "don't come back," while waving posters with the same phrase along the road leading to Ben Gurion Airport.
Watch: Opponents of controversial judicial reforms sought by #Israel's government demonstrate at Ben Gurion airport ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu's departure on an official trip to #Germany.https://t.co/FMjK3VDEfN pic.twitter.com/vL7Xi6mGgc
— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) March 16, 2023
New amendments would serve Netanyahu's corruption case
According to the new amendments, the Israeli parliament will be able in the future to overturn the decisions of the Supreme Court. Opponents of the amendments said the change could serve the prime minister in a corruption case that has been filed against him and has been going on for a long time.
But the Israeli prime minister and his allies see the reforms as necessary to restore the balance of power between elected politicians and unelected Supreme Court justices.
Written by Razan Abdelhadi
