Current:Home > StocksNetanyahu says Israel won't bend to "pressures" after Biden suggests he abandon controversial judicial overhaul-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Netanyahu says Israel won't bend to "pressures" after Biden suggests he abandon controversial judicial overhaul
View Date:2024-12-23 18:25:15
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded Tuesday to a suggestion from President Biden that his government "walks away" from controversial judicial overhaul plans, which have drawn an unprecedented backlash within Israel, by saying the country makes its own decisions.
"Israel is a sovereign country which makes its decisions by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad, including from the best of friends," Netanyahu tweeted. He later called Israel's alliance with the U.S. "unshakeable."
On Tuesday, Mr. Biden said he was "concerned" about the situation in Israel, where protests against the proposed judicial overhaul escalated this week. Critics say the changes planned by Netanyahu's far-right coalition government would undermine the independence of Israel's supreme court and destroy the country's system of legislative checks and balances.
- What's behind the escalating strikes, protests and violence in Israel?
"Like many strong supporters of Israel, I'm very concerned, and I'm concerned that they get this straight," Mr. Biden told journalists. "They cannot continue down this road, and I've sort of made that clear. Hopefully the prime minister will act in a way that he can try to work out some genuine compromise, but that remains to be seen."
When asked about reports that he would soon be inviting Netanyahu to the White House, Mr. Biden said, "No. Not in the near term."
Later Tuesday, the U.S. president said he hopes Netanyahu "walks away" from the judicial overhaul legislation.
The atypically terse exchange between the leaders of the U.S. and Israel came just a day after some of the biggest protests in Israel's history. Thousands took to the streets, furious over Netanyahu's weekend decision to fire his defense chief over comments suggesting, as Mr. Biden did later, that the judiciary reforms should be shelved.
Facing not only the street protests, but a massive national labor strike over the move, Netanyahu backed down Monday night and announced a delay of the process to enact the legislation.
In a televised address, the Israeli leader said he was "not willing to tear the nation in half," and that, "when there's a possibility of avoiding fraternal war through dialogue, I, as prime minister, will take a time out for that dialogue."
Netanyahu made it clear Tuesday, however, that his government was delaying the judicial overhaul, not abandoning it.
"My administration is committed to strengthening democracy by restoring the proper balance between the three branches of government, which we are striving to achieve via a broad consensus," he tweeted.
- In:
- Democracy
- Israel
- Joe Biden
- Middle East
- Benjamin Netanyahu
Haley Ott is an international reporter for CBS News based in London.
TwitterveryGood! (9)
Related
- Mega Millions winning numbers for November 8 drawing: Jackpot rises to $361 million
- Paris Olympics highlights: Noah Lyles wins track's 100M, USA adds two swimming golds
- Scottie Scheffler won't be viewed as an Olympic hero, but his was a heroic performance
- Scottie Scheffler won't be viewed as an Olympic hero, but his was a heroic performance
- Bears fire offensive coordinator Shane Waldron amid stretch of 23 drives without a TD
- From trash to trolls: This artist is transforming American garbage into mythical giants
- Head bone connected to the clavicle bone and then a gold medal for sprinter Noah Lyles
- U.S. women cap off Paris Olympic swimming with world-record gold in medley relay
- Man gets a life sentence in the shotgun death of a New Mexico police officer
- Want to train like an Olympic champion? Start with this expert advice.
Ranking
- Asian sesame salad sold in Wegmans supermarkets recalled over egg allergy warning
- A rebuilt bronze Jackie Robinson statue will be unveiled 6 months after the original was stolen
- Michigan toddler recovering after shooting himself at babysitter’s house, police say
- Kamala Harris on Social Security: 10 things you need to know
- Sister Wives’ Christine Brown Shares Glimpse Into Honeymoon One Year After Marrying David Woolley
- Delaware authorities investigate the fatal shooting of a murder suspect by state troopers
- The Daily Money: A rout for stocks
- 2 months after Starliner launched, astronauts still haven’t returned: See timeline
Recommendation
-
Beyoncé's Grammy nominations in country categories aren't the first to blur genre lines
-
Hurricane Debby to bring heavy rains and catastropic flooding to Florida, Georgia and S. Carolina
-
Xochitl Gomez Reveals Marvel-ous Skincare Lessons and Products for Under $5
-
Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes Make Rare Appearance at 2024 Paris Olympics
-
Mega Millions winning numbers for November 8 drawing: Jackpot rises to $361 million
-
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is Sunday. Here's how to get a free cookie.
-
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he left a dead bear in Central Park as a prank
-
American Bobby Finke defends Olympic gold in swimming's 1,500M, breaks world record