United States Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides asserted his right to get involved in internal Israeli affairs – in particular, the highly contested judicial reform – as he pushed back at Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli's past suggestion that he stay out of it.
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"Some Israeli official, I don't know who he is, I don't think I've met him, suggested that I should stay out of Israel's business," Nides said Tuesday night during a live interview session at a conference by the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. "I really think that most Israelis do not want America to stay out of their business."
Nides previously called on the new government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to slow down the legislation and allow for more time to build consensus, a comment that struck a nerve with Israeli ministers.
At the INSS conference, he reiterated, saying "I have said.. as many Israelis have said, slow down a little bit. This is just my opinion, slow down a little bit, maybe bring people together, try to bring some consensus."
Chikli, in turn, said he was happy to discuss diplomatic matters with Nides, but insisted that he should "respect our democracy."
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