Reforms are long overdue

Former Board of Deputies presidents Henry Grunwald and Vivian Wineman invoke democracy in their plea to Israel to “respect” its judiciary and not advance the proposed reforms (23 February).

Democracy means those who make laws have been vested with that authority by the majority of citizens by a simple one man, one vote system.

Therein lies the problem. Over the past some 35 years, Israel’s judiciary has abrogated to itself powers to override any laws enacted by the elected government not to its ideological taste, on the undefined basis of “reasonableness”.

The Supreme Court has judicial veto power over appointments to the bench which it uses to exclude jurisprudentially diverse judges, giving itself power unparalleled in any modern democracy.

Thus it’s unsurprising “past attorney generals and former Supreme Court justices” oppose the changes, as do the heads of Israel’s main universi- ties, who tend towards the left. They are simply clones of one another. There was never any democratic mandate to bring in these changes, which diverged from the status quo ante of the first 40 years of Israel’s existence.

Given Grunwald and Wineman claim to believe in “the balance of powers between the executive, legislature and judiciary”, one wonders why they are so opposed to the reforms that would restore the balance of powers to what prevailed formerly. The “anguish” they claim to feel writing their piece is nothing to do with democracy, and everything to do with the loss of real power by the Left to dictate Israel’s policies, no matter who is nominally in charge, which is the driving force for the anti-government demonstrations.

The long overdue judicial reforms will strengthen democracy, not weaken it.

James R Windsor, Ilford

Henry Grunwald and Vivian Wineman wrote last week in support of the tens of thousands of Israelis who have taken to the streets to protest the legal reforms and asks Israel to respect its judiciary. I am writing in support of the millions who voted for the current government and the implementation of these reforms, and ask people, especially those that don’t live in Israel, to respect their choice.

Ann Cohen, Golders Green

PHOBIA FIGHT JUST SAYING... WHO CARES?

It is no surprise The Guardian praised Corbyn’s values (23 February). It certainly does not seem to be a “guardian” of honest, unbiased reporting and comment, so much so that one has to wonder what values and standards it does guard.

While not making any accusation about the BBC, The Guardian is known as being its house journal and any BBC employees who wish to advance their careers have to read it every day. Indeed, it places its job vacancies in that very newspaper. I’m not making any accusations. Like The Guardian, I am simply commenting.

Geoffrey Benstein, Harrow

In your Survation poll (you are coy about which group within Anglo Jewry was surveyed), 70 percent of British Jews thought Israelis don’t care what diaspora Jews think of Israel’s government or policies.

When Israelis tell diaspora Jews what to do, the diaspora ignores and resents them. Given the diaspora doesn’t care what Israelis think, why should Israelis care what the diaspora thinks?

Leave Israel alone to run its own affairs. It is in a better position to know how to do so than is the diaspora.

Warren S Grossman, By email

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Regarding your interview with Muslim charity boss Asif Aziz, who wants to join hands with Jewish organisations to fight Islamophobia (16 February), I urge caution. Perhaps it would be more fruitful if Muslim charities first dealt with Jew hate dressed as anti-Zionism before joining hands with Jews. Also, the term ‘Islamophobia’ is problematic. A better term would be ‘Muslimophobia’, which would be something we should all fight.

If we are to join hands, we should do so with Muslims who actively condemn Islamism and Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, ISIS and Al Qaeda. If Mr Aziz is sympathetic to this, it would be fruitful to do as he asks.

Wes Horowitz, By email