President Biden is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after months of tension regarding Netanyahu’s far-right judicial proposals.
Announcing the news: The meeting, whose details are still under discussion, was announced before Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Washington.
* National Security Council spokesman John Kirby made the announcement on Monday.
The backdrop: The planned meeting follows months of US-Israel tensions over Netanyahu’s proposals to overhaul Israel’s judicial system.
* Netanyahu’s supporters argue that liberal courts hold excessive power over government decisions, while critics warn Netanyahu’s moves risk threatening Israel’s system of checks and balances.
* Following widespread protests in Israel, Netanyahu agreed to pause efforts to change Israel’s Supreme Court judge appointment procedures in March; a decision that came after Biden expressed concerns.
Latest developments: Despite earlier pause, Netanyahu is now moving ahead with his judicial efforts.
* In a phone call on Monday, President Biden reemphasized “the need for the broadest possible consensus” and the importance of democratic values in the U.S.-Israel relationship.
* Despite the judicial system disagreement, both the White House and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office have emphasized the strong relationship between the two countries citing a “long and warm conversation” between the two leaders.
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