Biden and Israeli President Herzog Discuss Tensions in Relations Between the Two Countries

(Patria) - Joe Biden and his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog discussed tensions over the controversial judicial reform in Israel, which the US President described as the work of an "extremist" government, AFP reported.

Biden hosted Herzog in the Oval Office at the White House, telling him: "You know that my
love for Israel is deeply rooted and long-standing." But the warm greeting did not hide the divisions over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to reform the judicial system and expand Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

President Isaac Herzog, who has a largely ceremonial role in Israel, quickly addressed the controversy over judicial reform, which has sparked huge street protests by opponents who accuse Netanyahu of seizing power.

"It is a fierce debate, but it is also a virtue and a recognition of the greatness of Israeli democracy," he told Biden.

"Let me reiterate, clearly, crystal clear, that Israeli democracy is firm, strong, and resilient."

Herzog's visit, which includes an address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, was an opportunity for official Washington to underline its support for one of the United States' closest and most important alliances anywhere in the world. Several lawmakers from Biden's Democratic Party said they were considering boycotting Herzog's address to Congress in protest. In his opening remarks, Biden highlighted Washington's determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and also discussed regional diplomatic breakthroughs that have seen Israel and Arab countries expand ties.

Relations between Netanyahu and the Biden administration have been strained since he returned to lead a coalition of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties in December. Ahead of Herzog's visit, Biden somewhat eased tensions by speaking with Netanyahu and agreeing to meet him later this year in the United States. This will be the first such meeting since Netanyahu returned to office late last year. The Biden administration has not said whether the Israeli leader will receive a White House invitation or meet elsewhere, potentially at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

"We just haven't settled on that yet," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday, denying any "hesitation."

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Monday that the meeting would be closer to the end of the year, perhaps "in the fall," which would be around the time of the UN General Assembly session in New York.

In a phone call on Monday, Netanyahu told Biden that the judicial law would be passed next week and that he intended to "reach broad public support for the rest of the reform during the summer break," his office announced.

According to the US statement on the call, Biden "expressed concern about the continued growth of Jewish settlements" and "emphasized the need to take measures to maintain the viability" of a future Palestinian state. Regarding judicial reforms, Biden reiterated that "shared democratic values have always been and must remain a hallmark of US-Israeli relations."

Earlier this month, Biden said in an interview with CNN that Netanyahu presides over "one of the most extremist... cabinets I've seen."

Kirby warned that Biden's agreement to meet Netanyahu does not mean "that we have fewer concerns about these judicial reforms, or fewer concerns about some extremist activities and behavior by some members of Netanyahu's cabinet."

"Those concerns are still very much on the table. They are troubling," he said.