In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his scheduled appearance at the annual Jewish Federations of North America conference after Israel's judicial overhaul protesters called to hold demonstrations there.
This marks the first time that Netanyahu, throughout his many years serving as prime minister, will not be participating in the conference – which is the biggest annual gathering of its kind for North American Jewish leaders. About 3,000 delegates from the federation's community are currently present in Israel for the three-day event, which is being held in Tel Aviv on Monday night.
Leaders of Israel's mass protest movement had planned major disruptions to occur both before and after Netanyahu’s scheduled appearance, and had intended to block roads in the area to hinder the prime minister's arrival. The demonstrators also intended to plant hecklers in the auditorium where Netanyahu was slated to speak.
After the prime minister's cancelation was announced, protest organizers declared that they would still demonstrate at the event and called for participants to rally there.
Ami Dror, the protest movement activist responsible for coordinating disruptions at the General Assembly event, said that a “giant demonstration” would take place at the site at 6:30 P.M. “in order to celebrate the official joining of Jewish communities in the struggle for Israeli democracy.” The demonstration would take place, he said, “with or without Bibi,” referring to the prime minister by his nickname.
Israel's mass protest movement first erupted four months ago in response to the government’s plan to undermine the judiciary. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis now participate in the demonstrations, which are typically held on Saturday nights but often occur during the workweek as well.
The prime minister of Israel is always invited to deliver the opening address of the Jewish Federations' General Assembly. The timing of this year’s conference intended to coincide with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel. Netanyahu had been scheduled to speak at 8 P.M. in an official address to the event's participants.
While his office did not yet respond to a question about why he had dropped his attendance, the prime minister's cancelation is being seen as a major victory for Israel's protest leaders.
A JFNA spokesman would not specify what reason the prime minister gave for scrapping his planned appearance, but sources close to Netanyahu told Haaretz that it was due to "schedule considerations."
A statement issued by the JFNA announcing the cancelation said: “We thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for his message of friendship between our communities and his acknowledgement of the important role North American Jewry has played in building and developing the state of Israel.”
Leaders of the protest movement have been meeting with conference delegates over the weekend in their hotels, hoping to impress upon them why they believe the government's judicial overhaul plans will undermine democracy in Israel.
Delegates had been previously advised to arrive at the event early due to expected disruptions on Israel’s main highways ahead of Netanyahu’s planned arrival.
Though Netanyahu will not be attending, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will address participants at the conference as planned. In its statement on the matter, the JFNA said: “We look forward to hearing from President Isaac Herzog tonight and wish him continued luck in advancing a compromise agreement on judicial reforms that will be acceptable to the broad majority of Israelis and strengthen Israel’s democratic institutions.”
Negotiations between representatives of the coalition and opposition in the Knesset on a compromise deal are being held under the auspices of Israel's president. Leaders of the protest movement are not represented in the negotiations and have expressed their strong opposition to any deal that would compromise democracy.
The governing coalition's attempts to weaken Israel's judiciary were also the subject of heated protests last week at a World Zionist Congress gathering in Jerusalem. On Friday, police were summoned to the event after delegates who oppose the government's judicial overhaul plan held one of its key architects hostage in a room.