From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Pentagon chief to Gallant: Consensus through dialogue a key part ‘of a resilient democracy’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says securing “broad consensus through political dialogue” is a “critical element of a resilient democracy,” in the latest remarks from a Biden administration official following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition’s passing of the first piece of legislation from its judicial overhaul.
The message was passed along by Austin during a call with Gallant earlier today, according to a US readout.
Austin “also expressed concern regarding the urgent need for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to take meaningful steps to ensure stability in the West Bank,” the US readout states.
Netanyahu’s cabinet last month passed a decision that principally backs efforts to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, but has yet to implement any specific actions and has advanced a record amount of settlement construction that critics say significantly weakens the PA.
“Austin called for Palestinian leaders to condemn terrorism and take active steps to prevent violence. He urged Minister Gallant to address extremist settler violence against Palestinian civilians and continue the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s efforts to improve economic opportunities for Palestinians in the West Bank,” the Department of Defense says.
The Times of Israel Community.