Lapid pans reports Israel sending EU parliament partisan talking points on overhaul

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid blasts reports that the Foreign Ministry sent out talking points of a partisan nature ahead of the European Parliament debate this evening on Israeli democracy and the judicial overhaul.

“Every attempt by the Foreign Ministry to run a political campaign outside Israel’s borders is a serious strike at the Foreign Ministry’s role and a total violation of the diplomatic rules, which will cause Israel significant diplomatic damage,” tweets Lapid.

He adds that it is “a gross and overt violation of the rules and even of the separation of powers.”

The Walla news site reported earlier today that Assaf Moran, the ministry’s department chief for Multilateral European Organizations and NATO, sent on Saturday night a letter to Israel’s envoys in EU countries with talking points to share with friendly parliamentarians ahead of the debate, saying that the November elections “express a clear decision by the Israeli public about the identity of the government and its agenda.”

The message also includes a talking point that the legislative process about the reform is far from over, “and it is better to allow it to play out without external interference.” This is despite many of the relevant bills nearing their final votes, which could be held as early as next week.