Biden Warns Netanyahu About The Health Of Israel's Democracy And Urges Compromise On Court Overhaul | HuffPost Latest News - Action News
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Posted: 2023-09-21T04:00:31Z | Updated: 2023-09-21T04:00:31Z

NEW YORK (AP) President Joe Biden raised hard issues, including protecting the checks and balances in a democracy, in a Wednesday meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pushing the Israeli leader to find a compromise on a judicial overhaul that has set off months of mass protests in Israel and concerns in Washington.

Biden also raised concerns about the far-right Israeli governments treatment of the Palestinians, urging Netanyahu to take steps to improve conditions in the West Bank at a time of heightened violence in the occupied territory.

The two leaders sat down and took time to chat one-on-one on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. It was their first meeting since Netanyahu took office at the helm of his countrys far-right government late last year.

Relations have cooled since Netanyahu returned to office with a coalition of ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist partners. His new government has stepped up construction in West Bank settlements, angering the U.S., and pressed ahead with its contentious judicial overhaul plan despite deep divisions at home and criticism from the U.S. and other allies.

Netanyahu tried to play down concerns about the plan, saying there is one thing that will never change and that is Israels commitment to democracy.

Biden opened the meeting by stressing the U.S. friendship with Israel as being ironclad and saying that without Israel, theres not a Jew in the world who is secure. Israel is essential. But Biden also acknowledged the tensions with Netanyahus government and its policies.

Were going to discuss some of the hard issues, that is upholding democratic values that lie at the heart of our partnership, including the checks and balances in our systems, Biden said. He said they would also talk about a path to a negotiated two-state solution with Palestinians and ensuring that Iran never, never acquires a nuclear weapon.