Biden is warned by Netanyahu not to meddle in Israeli affairs
Biden is warned by Netanyahu not to meddle in Israeli affairs
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Tel Aviv: In response to President Joe Biden's concerns about proposed judicial reforms in Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted his nation would make its own decisions and not give in to "pressure from abroad."

The Israeli prime minister praised Biden for his "longstanding commitment to Israel" in a series of tweets he posted on Tuesday night, noting that he has known his American counterpart for "over 40 years."

After Biden stated that he was "very concerned" about the impending legal changes, he nevertheless pleaded with Washington to refrain from interfering in his nation's internal affairs.

Also Read: Following Netanyahu's U-turn Israeli parties talk about justice reforms

According to Netanyahu, "my administration is committed to enhancing democracy by restoring the appropriate balance between the three branches of government, which we are striving to achieve via a broad consensus." He also noted that "Israel is a sovereign country that makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends."

The contentious judicial reform would give Israel's parliament the ability to override Supreme Court rulings with a simple majority vote, which critics claim would weaken the judiciary's longstanding role as a check on executive power. Major demonstrations against the reform have taken place throughout Israel, and some foreign nations, including close allies like the US, have criticised it.

To give lawmakers more time to "reach an understanding on the legislation," Netanyahu said on Monday that the government would "time out" on the proposal until the following Knesset session. The decision did not, however, put an end to criticism of the reform.

When questioned about the legal change earlier on Tuesday, Biden told reporters that he hoped Netanyahu would "walk away" from the proposal before it became law and that "They cannot continue down this road."

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He continued, "Like many ardent supporters of Israel, I'm very worried, and I'm worried that they get this straight. "I'm hoping the prime minister will act in a way that allows him to try to reach a sincere compromise. But that is still up in the air.

Despite being re-elected as prime minister for a third time, the president also stated that Netanyahu would not be granted a visit to the White House "in the near term."

Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis is getting ready to travel to Jerusalem next month, where he will deliver the keynote address at an event sponsored by the Jerusalem Post and the Museum of Tolerance, as the White House appears to intensify its criticism of Israeli policies.

Despite not having officially declared his intention to run for president in 2024, DeSantis is widely regarded as the Republican Party's front-runner and has gained support from conservatives for his outspoken opposition to Covid-19 mandates.

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At a time of "unnecessarily strained relations" between Israel and the United States, the governor's office seized on the argument between Biden and Netanyahu before Netanyahu's visit, saying that "Florida serves as a bridge between the American and Israeli people."

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