From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Netanyahu told Biden he’ll pass judicial bill, no more settlement construction this year
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told US President Joe Biden during their talk last night that he was committed to passing judicial overhaul legislation, the Walla news site reports.
The report, citing two US and Israeli officials familiar with the conversation, says that Biden pressed Netanyahu to reach a consensus over the controversial reform plan.
However, Netanyahu told Biden that opposition leaders were refusing to compromise, calling them extremists and saying they were afraid of the protest leaders.
Netanyahu told Biden that the current “reasonableness” bill being passed was “not a big deal” and said there would be no further legislation until October.
The report says Biden was apparently not convinced by Netanyahu’s explanation.
Biden also reportedly pressed Netanyahu to halt West Bank settlement construction.
Netanyahu told Biden there would be no more construction authorized until next year, the report says.
An American official tells Walla that Netanyahu was very clear with Biden about his lack of space to maneuver with his hardline coalition partners.
