The American news site "Axios" revealed, on Thursday, that a group of Jewish congressmen from the Democratic Party held a difficult meeting with the Israeli ambassador to Washington, Mike Herzog, two weeks ago and expressed their deep concern about the Netanyahu government's plan to weaken the Supreme Court, according to the site.

The report indicates that this high-level private meeting reflected the concern felt by the members (who met with Herzog) who are staunch supporters of Israel and represent a large American Jewish fan base about the judicial reform plan and how it might affect the relationship between the United States and Israel.

The group also echoed similar concerns expressed by the Biden administration about what the plan could mean for Israel's democracy.

US President Joe Biden reportedly expressed similar concerns to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call earlier this week.

The site says, "The judicial reform plan, presented by the most right-wing government in Israel's history, has deepened political divisions in Israel and sparked protests, including within the ranks of the Israeli army, against the Netanyahu government."

According to the report, “The meeting, which included more than 20 Democrats, included harsh criticism of the plan, according to Israeli officials with direct knowledge of the meeting.” One congressman who attended the meeting told Axios, “The discussion was “frank and transparent,” as all attendees expressed their concerns. It reflected what many hear from their Jewish constituents: "It was not polemical," the representative said.

Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Illinois), who helped organize the meeting, called the meeting "emotional, and we've been raised with fear that some of the changes being discussed, if taken to extremes, could have a negative impact on Israeli democracy." , stressing that those who attended the meeting have a very close connection to Israel and a strong commitment to the relationship between the United States and Israel "because there is a special aspect to Israel as a Jewish, democratic state. And that has always had a special place in the relationship between the United States and Israel," the representative told Axios. .

Schneider is quoted as saying that members of Congress did not give the Israeli ambassador a "if, then" threat, but stressed that if the judicial reform plan is implemented without changes, it will be difficult to "talk about Israel in the same way."

Rep. Jake Auchinkloss (D-Massachusetts) confirmed during the meeting that he heard concerns from every corner of the Jewish community in his district and added that his constituents are worried about these reforms and their potential harm to Israeli democracy, a congressional aide with sociology said, who added that other lawmakers They expressed concerns that moving forward with these judicial reforms could have negative consequences for the relationship between the United States and Israel.

The site attributes to a member of Congress who attended the meeting saying, "The attendees expressed their fears that the judicial plan would impede the independence of the Israeli Supreme Court and, as a result, there would be less protection for the rights of minorities."

"The ambassador listened very carefully and committed that he would bring all of our concerns directly to the prime minister," the congressman told the site, and that "there were members in the room who represented ... a large number of the Jewish population within their districts and wanted to make sure that the prime minister understood that these were not just votes." are few and that many members of the Jewish community across the country are very concerned," the lawmaker said.

It is reported that the Netanyahu government announced on Monday that it will move forward with one of the main elements of the judicial plan, which includes changing the process for appointing judges and giving the government full control over appointments to the Supreme Court.

It is noteworthy that the US State Department summoned the Israeli ambassador, Herzog, on Tuesday, and reprimanded him for the judicial crisis and the statements of Finance Minister Israel Smotrich.

The ministry statement, a copy of which was received by Jerusalem, said that the Deputy Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, met with the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, on Tuesday in Washington, DC, where "the Deputy Secretary of State conveyed the concern of the United States regarding the legislation passed by the Israeli Knesset to cancel important aspects of the disengagement law." of 2005, including a ban on settlement construction in the northern West Bank. They also discussed the importance of all parties refraining from actions or rhetoric that could further inflame tensions leading up to Ramadan and the Jewish holiday of Passover.