McCarthy: Checks on power important to democracy, up to Israel to decide on judicial reform

US House Kevin McCarthy says that checks on power are an important part of a democratic government, but insists that judicial reform in Israel is an internal issue which should decided by the Israeli public.

“Israel is their own nation, only it can decide what it wants to do. In a democracy you want checks and balances and a separation of powers… but we leave it up to you how to decide that,” says McCarthy at a press conference following a speech he delivered to the Knesset plenum.

McCarthy says he expects US President Joe Biden to invite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, but also says he’ll invite Netanyahu to Congress if no White House invitation is extended.

“I expect the White House to invite the prime minister over for a meeting especially because of Israel’s 75th anniversary,” says McCarthy following Biden’s recent comments that Netanyahu would not be receiving an invite to Washington in the near future.

Asked if he stands by earlier comments that he would invite Netanyahu absent an invite from the president, McCarthy says it would be appropriate for the prime minister to visit, adding that such a trip would include bipartisan meetings with Republicans and Democrats from the House of Representatives.