Senior US official says Israeli overhaul fight distracting from West Bank tensions

Israel’s domestic fight over judicial reform has distracted it from dealing with rising tensions in the West Banks, says a senior US foreign policy official.

“The complete distraction that was inevitable during these last weeks and last three months would also mean there was a distraction away from urgent issues that need addressing in terms of Palestinians in the West Bank,” says Barbara Leaf, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, during a briefing about her recent trip to the region.

“Leaders across the region have expressed their concerns to me regularly about the insecurity and instability in the West Bank,” Leaf says in response to a question.

Israel’s “ability to deal with that has been compromised somewhat by the issues related to public protest and public disagreement over the judicial restructuring plan.”

Leaf, who attended the two regional summits in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh to find ways to calm tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, says there is “very slowly, painstakingly” movement in the right direction.

She says she is encouraged by a quiet start to the month of Ramadan, and that “both parties have shown a real seriousness of intent.”

“But facts on the ground and activities often get in the way of the best intentions,” she says.

Leaf does not mention US President Joe Biden’s recent criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu, nor does she mention any Israeli leaders by name.