US calls Israel’s passage of judicial overhaul law ‘unfortunate’

Israelis opposed to a contentious government plan to overhaul the country's judiciary wave Israeli and US flags during a protest in Tel Aviv [File: Oded Balilty/AP Photo]

The White House has deemed it “unfortunate” that Israel’s legislature passed a bill that aims to curb the powers of the country’s top court, stressing that the administration of US President Joe Biden believes major changes should be decided by “consensus”.

In a brief statement on Monday, just hours after the Israeli Knesset passed the legislation, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said, “It is unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority.”