By Batya Jerenberg, WorldIsraelNews.com

A major American Jewish organization criticized Israel’s hotly contested judicial reform, saying it would affect its community, without explaining how it could do so.

In an open letter sent Tuesday to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Opposition leader Yair Lapid, the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) urged the leaders “to make clear that a majority of just sixty-one votes of the Knesset is not sufficient to override a decision of the Supreme Court.”

Jewish Federations have a deep and abiding love for the State of #Israel. It is because of this love that we have written an open letter to the Government of Israel. Read the letter here: https://t.co/j0WsUPM7us pic.twitter.com/8XWtape8yX

— The Jewish Federations of North America (@jfederations) February 21, 2023

“The essence of democracy is both majority rule and protection of minority rights. We recognize that any system of checks and balances will be different than those in our own countries, but such a dramatic change to the Israeli system of governance will have far-reaching consequences in North America, both within the Jewish community and in the broader society,” the missive continued.

No specific consequences to Diaspora Jews were mentioned, however.

The letter, which assured Israeli leaders of JFNA’s “deep and abiding love” and “unconditional and eternal support” for Israel, also asked that the country’s leadership negotiate regarding the judicial reforms as a whole as per the proposals of President Isaac Herzog, who “has the respect and admiration of Jews around the world, as do both of you.”

“Whatever the final resolution of these issues, this process will ensure that the views of all stakeholders are fully considered,” it added.

In a follow-up tweet describing the letter, JFNA chair Julie Platt called the current override proposal a “major issue,” one that “affect[s] the northern American Jewish community,” but again without saying why.