Yaïr Lapid is currently visiting the United States to restore the ties that have crumbled during the debate on the reform of the judicial system
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid met with American Jewish leaders in New York on Monday, as part of a trip to the United States aimed at “reestablishing ties with the United States amid debate over reform judiciary divides the country”.
The meeting was organized by the Jewish Federations of North America at the headquarters of theUJA-Federation of New Yorkin Manhattan, and brought together leaders of major Jewish groups in North America, including theAnti-Defamation Leaguel’American Jewish Committee and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Like the “American big brother”, Yaïr Lapid has shown himself to be a fervent opponent of the judicial reform legislation. He encouraged the mass protests and general strike that paralyzed the country and led Benjamin Netanyahu to suspend the legislative process until the opening of the summer parliamentary session on April 30.
Many North American Jewish community leaders have also entered the internal Israeli debate, voicing their own concerns. Mr Lapid addressed Jewish leaders in New York stressing the “importance of democratic values shared by both countries”. “The Israeli-American partnership is more important than ever,” he stressed. He urged senior officials “not to give up on the Jewish state,” saying “governments come and go, but the country is here to stay.”
“We have expressed our desire that each side will do everything possible to find a compromise on judicial reform,” Jewish Federation of North America President Julie Platt said. Mr. Lapid also met separately with Representatives Jerry Nadler and Ritchie Torres.
