CNN’s Kaitlan Collins sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Friday’s edition of The Source where she blamed him and his judicial reforms for the “damage” done to U.S.-Israeli relations which led to Netanyahu, once again, having to educate an American journalist on just what his judicial reforms entail.
Collins asked, “you mentioned President Biden. After your meeting with him, this week, the White House said that he quote, ‘Reiterated his concern about any fundamental changes to Israel's democratic system, absent the broadest possible consensus.’ How can you deny the damage that your push, for this judicial reform, is doing, to Israeli-U.S. relations?”
Netanyahu ever so politely called out the media for spreading fake news, “Well, I think the damage is not the reform. It's the way the reform is mis-presented. So, it's some kind of collapse of democracy, when we're all -- all we're talking about is -- you know what? We're really talking about is how we choose judges. Now, in America, the elected officials, your politicians, choose judges that have to be confirmed by your Parliament, by the Congress. In Israel, they say that if that happens, there'll be a collapse of democracy, let's say.”
This isn’t the first time Netanyahu has had to correct a CNN reporter on the issue. Back in January, he gave a similar civics lesson to Jake Tapper. In July, he also had to educate ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on the matter.
Apparently, Collins doesn’t watch her own colleagues as she followed up, “You think the White House misunderstands what you're proposing?”
Being as patient and diplomatic as ever, Netanyahu responded, “Well, I hope they understand it better now, after this discussion. But I think the discussion has been crazy. I mean, it's been completely off the rails.”
Unwilling to accept Netanyahu’s answer, Collins tried again, “I mean, it took -- it took -- we've never seen it, take this long, for an Israeli Prime Minister, to meet with a U.S. President. And that meeting didn't even happen, at the White House. It happened here, on the sidelines, of the U.N. summit. It's very clear that they are concerned with this reform.”
Netanyahu replied that Biden can have his opinions, but ultimately, it isn’t his decision to make, “Well, they don't hide it. And I don't hide the fact that they do it. But ultimately, it's our democratic decision, which will be prudent and responsible. But I can tell you, yes, it took nine months. But the meeting was borne, and was a very good meeting. It was a very good meeting, and I think can lead to a successful outcome.”
Of course, Netanyahu is correct about the reforms themselves being mis-represented, but Collins is wrong to suggest that they are responsible for any rift in U.S.-Israeli relations. That would be the fault of the White House which is sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong so it can appease its media and progressive bases.
Here is a transcript of the September 22 show:
CNN The Source with Kaitlan Collins
9/22/2023
9:10 PM ET
KAITLAN COLLINS: But meet -- you mentioned President Biden. After your meeting with him, this week, the White House said that he quote, "Reiterated his concern about any fundamental changes to Israel's democratic system, absent the broadest possible consensus." How can you deny the damage that your push, for this judicial reform, is doing, to Israeli-U.S. relations?
NETANYAHU: Well, I think the damage is not the reform. It's the way the reform is mis-presented. So, it's some kind of collapse of democracy, when we're all -- all we're talking about is -- you know what? We're really talking about is how we choose judges. Now, in America, the elected officials, your politicians, choose judges that have to be confirmed by your Parliament, by the Congress. In Israel, they say that if that happens, there'll be a collapse of democracy, let's say.
COLLINS: You think the White House misunderstands what you're proposing?
NETANYAHU: Well, I hope they understand it better now, after this discussion. But I think the discussion has been crazy. I mean, it's been completely off the rails.
COLLINS: I mean, it took -- it took -- we've never seen it, take this long, for an Israeli Prime Minister, to meet with a U.S. President. And that meeting didn't even happen, at the White House. It happened here, on the sidelines, of the U.N. summit. It's very clear that they are concerned with this reform.
NETANYAHU: Well, they don't hide it. And I don't hide the fact that they do it. But ultimately, it's our democratic decision, which will be prudent and responsible. But I can tell you, yes, it took nine months. But the meeting was borne, and was a very good meeting. It was a very good meeting, and I think can lead to a successful outcome.
