Herzog tells Biden Israel's democracy remains sound amid U.S. concerns

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Local/world Wednesday, July 19, 2023 5A SUSAN WALSH /AP President Joe Biden meets with Israel's President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday in the Oval Office of the White House.

Herzog tells Biden Israel's democracy remains sound amid U.S. concerns By ZEKE MILLER try toward authoritarian rule. in New York on the mar- "ironclad, unwavering com- AP White Herzog has appealed for gins of the U.N. General mitment" to Israel's secu- House Correspondent a compromise that has thus Assembly. rity and that the two lead- far proven elusive.

Many White House visits ers discussed Iran's nucle- WASHINGTON - Israel's Amencan Jewish groups and typically standard protocol program and regional figurehead president Isaac Democratic lawmakers have for Israeli prime ministers. security issues.

Biden also Herzog sought to expressed concerns about and the delay in Netanyahu "expressed concern" over President Joe Biden that the plan. receiving one has become Israel's continued settlement Israel remains committed With differences in plain an issue in Israel, with oppo- growth in the West Bank and to democracy amid deep- view, Biden sought to stress nents citing it as a reflection urged Israel to take steps to ening U.S. concerns over the importance of the U.S.- of deteriorating relations preserve the viability Prime Minister Benjamin of Israeli relationship in his with the U.S. a two-state solution with Netanyahu's controversial brief remarks before report- Herzog said the Biden- Palestinians. plans to overhaul his coun ers.

Netanyahu conversation sent try's judicial system and "This is a friendship Biden, Kirby said, also an important message to the welcomed steps region. by ongoing settlement the COle I believe is just simply Palestinian Authority to struction in the West Bank. unbreakable," Biden said. *I was pleased to hear reassert security control in Sitting by Biden's side at During his U.S.

VISIl, about your conversation with Jenin and other areas of the the start of their Oval Office Herzog is also to meet Vice Prime Minister Netanyahu West Bank and moves by meeting on Tuesday, Herzog President Kamala Harris and in which you focused on our Isracl and Palestinians to told Biden that Israel's democracy remains "sound, congressional leaders.

On ironclad military and securi- move toward another round Wednesday he will become ly cooperation because there of direct talks. strong" and "resilient" while the second Israeli presi are some enemies of ours Progressive lawmakers, acknowledging the country dent, after his father Chaim that sometimes mistake the Reps. Alexandria Ocasio- is going through a fractious moment.

Herzog, to address Congress. fact that we may have some Cortez. Jamaal Bowman, Herzog's His speech will mark Israel's differences as impacting our Cori Bush and Ilhan Omar visit comes a day after Biden spoke with celebration of its 75th year unbreakable bond," Herzog have pledged to boycott Netanyahu by phone and of independence. said.

Herzog's address in protest Herzog's VISit comes National Security Council of Israel's policies. invited him to meet in the weeks after Israeli forces spokesman John Kirby said Herzog's visit comes days U.S. this fall, although the carried out one of their most Biden again on Monday after Rep.

Pramila Jayapal, president expressed reser- vations about several of the intensive operations in the expressed chair of the influential Netanyahu hard-right coali- West Bank in two decades, Netanyahu over the judicial 100-member Congressional tion's policies.

Netanyahu's with a two-day air and plan - as he did when they Progressive Caucus, sparked ground offensive in Jenin, last spoke carlier this year for calling Israel government is pushing for- a militant stronghold in the - and urged the "broadest outrage "racist state, ward with judicial chang- includ- es that have sparked wide- occupied West Bank.

Senior possible consensus" over ing criticism from House spread protest in Israel and members of Netanyahu's the legislation that has been Democratic leader Rep. pushed by Netanyahu and Hakeem Jeffries.

Jayapal he has authorized the con- government have been push- of his hard-line coalition. struction of thousands ing for increased construc- later said she was criticizing new housing units in the tion and other measures to Kirby said during the call Israel's government, not its West Bank. cement Israel's control over Biden also expressed his existence as a country.

"We are going through the West Bank in response pains. We are going through to a more than yearlong heated debates, Herzog wave of violence with the said. "We have gone through Palestinians. J.C. Kirby Son FUNERAL CHAPELS AND CREMATORY FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR challenging moments.

But I U.S. officials have broad- truly, truly believe and I say ly supported Israel's right to you Mr.

President, as I've to defend itself from mil- Let Eddie and our experienced staff help you in your time of need. said it as head of state to the itant attacks but have also people of Israel, we should urged restraint to minimize always seek to find amicable harm to civilians and have consensus, and I agree with lobbied against addition- you on that as well. al scitlements that would Netanyal and his allies, a further diminish the chanc- collection of ultra-Orthodox es of securing a two-state Eddie Smith and ultranationalist parties, solution between Isracl and say the plan is needed to rein Palestinians.

270.843-311 832 Broadway | 820 Lovers Ln BG, KY in the powers of unelected The Biden administra- judges. Opponents say the tion declined to say whether plan will destroy Israel's Biden would host Netanvahu fragile system of checks and at the White House - as the balances and move the coun Israch leader has hoped - or Why Pre Planning with us is Important

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"Herzog tells Biden Israel's democracy remains sound amid U.S. concerns," Park City Daily News, 19 July 2023. Covering Palestine archive, CP-2023-086. https://coveringpalestine.org/archive/cp-2023-086