Isaac Herzog, President of Israel, Meets with Joe Biden to Discuss Judicial Concerns and Settlement Expansion
Israel's President, Isaac Herzog, met with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office on Tuesday to discuss concerns over the Israeli judicial system and settlement construction in the West Bank.
During the meeting, Herzog sought to reassure Biden that Israel's democracy remains strong and resilient, despite deepening tensions within the country.
The visit comes a day after Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and invited him to meet in the US this fall.
However, the president expressed reservations about the Netanyahu government's policies, particularly its plans to overhaul the judicial system and expand settlement construction in the West Bank.
Many American Jewish groups and Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about the plan, which they fear could undermine Israel's system of checks and balances and move the country towards authoritarian rule.
Despite these differences, Biden stressed the importance of the US-Israeli relationship, describing it as "unbreakable" and "ironclad." During his visit, Herzog will also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders, and he will become the second Israeli president to address Congress.
His speech will mark Israel's 75th anniversary of independence.
U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed concern to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a controversial judicial plan that has been pushed by Netanyahu and his hard-line coalition, according to the National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
During a call between the two leaders on Monday, Biden urged the formation of a "broadest possible consensus" over the legislation, which has been criticized by the Palestinian Authority and some members of the U.S. Congress.
Kirby also said that Biden discussed Iran's nuclear program and regional security issues with Netanyahu during the call.
The U.S. President reportedly expressed concern over Israel's continued settlement growth in the West Bank and urged Israel to take steps to preserve the viability of a two-state solution with Palestinians.
Kirby also noted that Biden welcomed steps by the Palestinian Authority to reassert security control in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank and moves by Israel and Palestinians to move toward another round of direct talks.
However, some progressive members of the U.S. Congress have pledged to boycott a planned address by Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog in protest of Israel's policies.
Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, and Ilhan Omar have criticized Israel's treatment of Palestinians and its policies in the West Bank.
The visit by Herzog comes days after Rep.
Pramila Jayapal, chair of the influential Congressional Progressive Caucus, sparked outrage by calling Israel a "racist state," including criticism from House Democratic leader Rep.
Hakeem Jeffries.
Jayapal later clarified that she was criticizing Israel's government, not its existence as a country.
Kirby said that Biden was glad that Jayapal had apologized for her comments.
"We think an apology was the right thing to do," he told reporters.
Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war.
The Palestinians claim all three territories for a future independent state.
Israel has annexed east Jerusalem and claims it as part of its capital, a claim that is not internationally recognized.
It says the
The visit comes a day after Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and invited him to meet in the US this fall.
However, the president expressed reservations about the Netanyahu government's policies, particularly its plans to overhaul the judicial system and expand settlement construction in the West Bank.
Many American Jewish groups and Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns about the plan, which they fear could undermine Israel's system of checks and balances and move the country towards authoritarian rule.
Despite these differences, Biden stressed the importance of the US-Israeli relationship, describing it as "unbreakable" and "ironclad." During his visit, Herzog will also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders, and he will become the second Israeli president to address Congress.
His speech will mark Israel's 75th anniversary of independence.
U.S. President Joe Biden has expressed concern to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a controversial judicial plan that has been pushed by Netanyahu and his hard-line coalition, according to the National Security Council spokesman John Kirby.
During a call between the two leaders on Monday, Biden urged the formation of a "broadest possible consensus" over the legislation, which has been criticized by the Palestinian Authority and some members of the U.S. Congress.
Kirby also said that Biden discussed Iran's nuclear program and regional security issues with Netanyahu during the call.
The U.S. President reportedly expressed concern over Israel's continued settlement growth in the West Bank and urged Israel to take steps to preserve the viability of a two-state solution with Palestinians.
Kirby also noted that Biden welcomed steps by the Palestinian Authority to reassert security control in Jenin and other areas of the West Bank and moves by Israel and Palestinians to move toward another round of direct talks.
However, some progressive members of the U.S. Congress have pledged to boycott a planned address by Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog in protest of Israel's policies.
Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, and Ilhan Omar have criticized Israel's treatment of Palestinians and its policies in the West Bank.
The visit by Herzog comes days after Rep.
Pramila Jayapal, chair of the influential Congressional Progressive Caucus, sparked outrage by calling Israel a "racist state," including criticism from House Democratic leader Rep.
Hakeem Jeffries.
Jayapal later clarified that she was criticizing Israel's government, not its existence as a country.
Kirby said that Biden was glad that Jayapal had apologized for her comments.
"We think an apology was the right thing to do," he told reporters.
Israel captured the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Mideast war.
The Palestinians claim all three territories for a future independent state.
Israel has annexed east Jerusalem and claims it as part of its capital, a claim that is not internationally recognized.
It says the
