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☆ Israel's Netanyahu rules out civil war as mass protests divide country over judicial reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A woman holds a placard with a photo of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as the right wing holds a rally to support the government's judicial overhaul on July 23, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the possibility of civil war in his country, which has recently been rattled by protracted mass protests over judicial reforms. Raising the stakes of the judicial changes, Israel lacks a formalized written constitution and instead depends on a set of basic laws. The prime minister dismissed criticism that the legislation was potentially rushed in, saying he continues to seek compromise. "I think it's unfortunate that you've had reservists being lined up for something that involves a political debate," Netanyahu commented.

Persons: Binyamin Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog, you've, Karine Jean, Pierre, I've, I'm, United Arab Emirates —, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al, Saud, Antony Blinken, Abraham Organizations: NBC, Tel, Reuters, House Press, Saudi, United, United Arab Emirates, kindle, Israel, Saudi Foreign, U.S, NBC News, Abraham Accords Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Israeli, Israel's, Jerusalem, U.S, Washington, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Iran, Tehran, Saudi, United Arab

☆ US VP Harris embraces new attack role, draws fresh Republican fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Jarrett Renshaw | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris meets with Israeli President Isaac Herzog (not pictured) in her ceremonial offices at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, U.S., July 19, 2023. Biden credits Black voters for his 2020 victory, with exit polls showing he carried 87% of the vote. His campaign accused another Black Republican who criticized the changes, which include teaching that slavery had possible benefits to the enslaved, of being a Harris supporter. Voters wary of the president’s advanced age of 80 are expected to take a much harder look at the vice president. “We are running against Kamala Harris.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Isaac Herzog, Nathan Howard, Harris, Joe Biden’s, reacquaint Harris, burnish, ’, Biden, Al Sharpton, it’s, DeSantis, Tim Scott, Kamala Harris that’s, Joe Biden, ”, Nikki Hailey, Roe, Wade, Bruce Thompson Organizations: BOSTON, Florida Governor, ”, Eisenhower, REUTERS, Black, National Action Network, Reuters, NBC, Republican, Black Republican, Biden, Fox News, mojo, Democratic National Committee Locations: Iowa, Chicago, Washington , U.S, Boston, United States, –, North Carolina

☆ Israel urges calm amid plans for further protest at judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The plans have hit the economy by drawing warnings from credit agencies, triggering foreign investor flight. A Palestinian group aligned with the Islamist movement Hamas said it launched a rocket from the occupied West Bank into Israel in retaliation. Israel has previously acknowledged that were preliminary efforts under way by West Bank fighters to develop a rocket arsenal. Video posted on social media showed scores of other Jews visiting the Jerusalem compound under Israeli police guard. In the latest violence, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian teenager when clashes erupted during an Israeli army raid in Palestinian city of Qalqiliya, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Tisha B'av, Isaac Herzog, Netanyahu, Shikma Bressler, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben, Nidal al, Dan Williams, Tom Perry, Robert Birsel, Nick Macfie Organizations: West Bank JERUSALEM, Facebook, West Bank, Police, Palestinian Health Ministry, Thomson Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, West, al, United States, Palestinian, Qalqiliya, Gaza

☆ The 'aspirational' luxury shopper is suffering, but don't expect any deals
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US consumers earning less than $100,000 fueled record profits last year for French luxury group LVMH. These "aspirational" customers are now pulling back on spending as pandemic cash reserves run dry. Important as these shoppers are, don't expect to see huge markdowns from Louis Vuitton and Dior. "The cost of all these initiatives was obviously quite high," Guiony said. Not every luxury brand can pull this strategy off, but it appears LVMH certainly can.

Persons: Louis Vuitton, that's, Christian Dior, Tiffany, LVMH, Jean, Jacques Guiony, Neil Saunders, Saunders, Michael Kors, Guiony, Hitha Herzog, Herzog, Pharrell Williams Organizations: Dior, Service, Louis Locations: Wall, Silicon, Asia, Pont, Paris

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., July 18, 2023. Despite Washington’s longtime status as Israel’s top ally and biggest weapons supplier, Biden appears to have few good options. The White House, in a terse statement, called the Knesset vote "unfortunate" and urged work toward a broad consensus. But U.S. officials have yet to set a date or concur with Israeli statements that they would meet at the White House in September. One White House official said Biden, having known Netanyahu for decades, can be especially blunt with him in private.

Persons: Joe Biden, Isaac Herzog, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu, It's, Aaron David Miller, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, Israel's, David Makovsky, Obama, Donald Trump, Herzog, Netanyahu’s, Tom Nides, Barack Obama, Miller, Matt Spetalnick, Steve Holland, Simon Lewis, Don Durfee, Grant McCool Organizations: White, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Israeli, Court, Israel, Democratic, Republican, Biden's Democratic Party, Washington Institute, West Bank, White House, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Israel, derailing, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Washington

☆ Powerful right-wing radicals are testing democratic checks and balance in both Israel and the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —White House criticism of Israel after its right-wing coalition embarked on a plan to target judicial power is bringing a new kind of turbulence to one of America’s oldest friendships. It shows that Israel, like the United States, is experiencing an era of right-wing politicians seeking to aggressively flex power and test enshrined democratic constraints. The drama is likely to further worsen the long-standing but increasingly brittle relationship between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu. Yet there is deep concern in the White House about the implications of any successful attempt to subvert checks and balances in Israel. And Netanyahu appeared to align himself politically with Trump while he was in the White House.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Biden’s, ”, shockwaves, Jordan, –, Martin Indyk, “, ” Indyk, Lynda Kinkade, hasn’t, Thomas Friedman, ” Biden’s, Karine Jean, Pierre, Isaac Herzog, ” Aaron David Miller, Isa Soares, don’t, Mitch McConnell, “ Mr, Obama, Trump, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, Ron DeSantis, “ Biden, Pramila Jayapal, didn’t Organizations: CNN, –, White House, Trump, Republicans, Democratic, House, West Bank, Biden, CNN International, “, New York Times, Republican, Israel, -, Republican Party, Netanyahu’s Likud Party, Florida Gov, Congressional, Democrat Locations: Iran, Israel, United States, Washington, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Florida

It is the first major piece of the multi-pronged judicial overhaul plan to get this far in the legislative process. The judicial overhaul is a package of bills that each need to pass three votes in the Knesset. Defending his plans, the prime minister has pointed to countries like the United States, where politicians control which federal judges are appointed and approved. Should the overhaul pass, the changes will be the most extreme shakeup to Israel’s judiciary since its founding in 1948. Its executive, the Bar Council, approved the decision to petition the Supreme Court to cancel the reasonableness law if it passes on Monday, the Bar said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, Critics, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Joe Biden, New York Times ’ Thomas Friedman, ” Biden, Friedman, ” Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog –, –, Herzog, ” Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Sunday, Israeli, Court, Critics, Israel Democracy Institute, Air, New York Times, White, Biden, Israel Bar Association, Bar, Association Locations: Jerusalem, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, United States, Washington

☆ White House blasts Israel for passing sweeping judicial changes with 'the slimmest possible majority'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The White House expressed concern after Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling coalition jammed through judicial reforms. Biden has made it repeatedly clear that he wants Israel to reach a consensus on an issue that has led to an uproar. "It is unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "As a lifelong friend of Israel, President Biden has publicly and privately expressed his views that major changes in a democracy to be enduring must have as broad a consensus as possible," she said in the statement. The tensions between Biden and Netanyahu come at a time when progressive lawmakers are increasingly skeptical over Israel's rightward push.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Biden, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, Jean, Israel, nudging Netanyahu, Thomas Friedman, Netanyahu's, Yariv Levin, Israel's, Isaac Herzog's Organizations: Service, Israel, New York Times, The Times, Democratic Locations: Israel, Wall, Silicon, Israel's

Long before moving into the White House, President Biden compared the relationship between the United States and Israel to that of close friends. For months, Mr. Biden refused to invite Mr. Netanyahu to Washington, which prevented at least some meetings between lower-level officials. Despite recognizing Israel, Mr. Truman refused to sell the new state offensive arms, as did his two successors. Mr. Biden’s relationship with Mr. Netanyahu has been scratchy going back years. “I don’t think the Jewish American community needs to be overly involved in this,” she said.

Persons: Long, Biden, “, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Nathan J, Diament, Isaac Herzog, Robert B, Harry S, Truman, —, Israel —, Israel, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, State James A, Baker, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump, Mr, “ Bibi, Biden’s, Netanyahu’s, Kamala Harris, ” —, Eli Cohen, Yair Lapid, Netanyahu “, Satloff, Thomas L, Friedman, Jake Sullivan, “ It’s, ” Mr, Sullivan, Chris Coons, James E, Diana Fersko, Rabbi Fersko Organizations: Israel, Orthodox Union, American Orthodox, Democratic, Washington Institute for Near East, State, State Department, Mr, New York Times, Aspen Security, Republican, Foreign Relations, Jewish, American Jewish, American Locations: United States, Israel, Washington, American, U.S, Egypt, Suez, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Manhattan

Long before moving into the White House, President Biden compared the relationship between the United States and Israel to that of close friends. For months, Mr. Biden refused to invite Mr. Netanyahu to Washington, which prevented at least some meetings between lower-level officials. Despite recognizing Israel, Mr. Truman refused to sell the new state offensive arms, as did his two successors. Mr. Biden urged Mr. Netanyahu “not to rush” his changes and “to seek the broadest possible consensus here.”Aides insist Mr. Biden is not trying to engineer a specific outcome in an ally’s internal politics. “I don’t think the Jewish American community needs to be overly involved in this,” she said.

Persons: Long, Biden, “, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Nathan J, Diament, Isaac Herzog, Robert B, Harry S, Truman, —, Israel —, Israel, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, State James A, Baker, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump, Mr, “ Bibi, Biden’s, Netanyahu’s, Kamala Harris, ” —, Eli Cohen, Yair Lapid, Netanyahu “, Satloff, Thomas L, Friedman, . Biden, Jake Sullivan, “ It’s, ” Mr, Sullivan, Chris Coons, James E, Diana Fersko, Rabbi Fersko Organizations: Israel, Orthodox Union, American Orthodox, Democratic, Washington Institute for Near East, State, State Department, Mr, New York Times, Aspen Security, Republican, Foreign Relations, Jewish, American Jewish, American Locations: United States, Israel, Washington, American, U.S, Egypt, Suez, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Manhattan

☆ Israel passes law to strip Supreme Court of power to block government decisions, defying months of protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Ivana Kottasová Richard Allen Greene Hadas Gold Amir Tal | Ivana Kottasová | Richard Allen Greene | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The so-called reasonableness law takes away the Supreme Court’s power to block government decisions by declaring them unreasonable. Saeed Qaq/NurPhoto via Getty Images Protesters from Tel Aviv walk the entrance road to Jerusalem after a four-day march on July 22. Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters Protesters block the main entrance to the Ministry of Defense during a protest in Tel Aviv on July 18. Israel, which has no written constitution and no upper chamber of the parliament, has had a relatively powerful Supreme Court, which supporters of the changes argue is problematic. He has argued that the Supreme Court has become an insular, elitist group that does not represent the Israeli people.

Persons: –, Yair Lapid, Ohad, Ammar Awad, Benjamin Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, Shas, Ronaldo Schemidt, Mahmoud Illean, Netanyahu, Ronen Zvulun, Hazem Bader, Dar Yaskil, Saeed Qaq, Matan Golan, Menahem Kahana, Ilan Rosenberg, Amir Levy, Jack Guez, Joe Biden, “, Israel, ” Biden, Biden, Thomas Friedman, ”, Maya Alleruzzo, Isaac Herzog Organizations: CNN, Israel Police, Air Force, Israeli, Quality Government, Supreme, AP, Reuters, Getty Images, Protesters, Reuters Protesters, Getty, Ministry of Defense, New York Times, TA, West Bank, Israel Bar Association, Association Locations: Israeli, Jerusalem, Reuters Israeli, AFP, Tel Aviv, Israel, United States

☆ Israel parliament starts vote on limiting supreme court power
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Nonetheless, commanding a comfortable majority in parliament, Netanyahu's coalition looked set to win the vote on the bill that limits the Supreme Court's powers to overrule decisions made by governments and ministers. 'DISASTER'[1/10]Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows Justice Minister Yariv Levin his phone as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023. "If you vote for this bill you will weaken the state of Israel, the people of Israel and the Israel Defence Forces." Justice Minister Yariv Levin who has been driving the changes defended the bill, which would amend a law enabling the Supreme Court to void decisions it deems "unreasonable". Netanyahu's coalition has been determined to push back against what it describes as overreach by a Supreme Court that it says has become too politically interventionist.

Persons: gov't, Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Isaac Herzog, Yair Lapid, Yariv Levin, Amir Cohen, We're, Lapid, Levin, Dan Williams, Steven Scheer, Miral Fahmy, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Monday, Police, Netanyahu's, REUTERS, Israel Defence Forces, Supreme, Thomson Locations: Washington, JERUSALEM, Jerusalem, Israel

☆ US calls Israel parliament vote 'unfortunate', urges work toward consensus
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"It is unfortunate that the vote today took place with the slimmest possible majority," she added. Opposition members of parliament boycotted the vote backed by lawmakers of Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition. [1/2]Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Monday, July 17, 2023. But U.S. officials have yet to set a date or concur with Israeli statements that they would meet at the White House as soon as September. Biden had delayed extending the invitation out of concern over what aides said were Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan and Jewish settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Joe Biden's, Israel, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ohad, Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Jean, Isaac, Herzog, Matt Spetalnick, Bill Berkrot, Grant McCool Organizations: U.S, House Press, White, West Bank, The U.S, U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: U.S, Jerusalem, Israel, United States

☆ Progressives dish on 'chilling effect' on Israel criticism after uproar over Pramila Jayapal's comments: 'We never do anything constructive on this issue'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Rep. Pramila Jayapal's comments on Israel caused an uproar this week in Congress. Even after Jayapal clarified her remarks about Israel, House Democratic leadership issued a statement rebuking her. Separately, 43 House Democrats said in a statement that they were "deeply concerned" about Jayapal's "unacceptable comments." "There's a few issues where any nuance is really discouraged," said another progressive House Democrat who insisted on anonymity to discuss the issue frankly. But Phillips held firm in his belief that it was important to firmly denounce criticism of Israel when it crosses a certain threshold.

Persons: Pramila, Israel, Jayapal, —, Mark Pocan, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, he’s, Leigh Vogel, Bowman, Isaac Herzog, I'm, Ilhan Omar, Minnesota, Rashida, Tlaib, Rashida Tlaib, Dean Phillips, Phillips, Dean Phillips of, Bill Clark, Israel — Organizations: Service, Democratic, Israel, House Democratic, Democrats, Republicans, West Bank, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Democrat, New, New York District, Rep, The Recording Academy, Reps, Dean Phillips of, Jewish Democrat, Michigan Democrats, Palestinian, Jewish, House Democrat, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Getty, Progressives, Israel Democrats Locations: Israel, Wall, Silicon, Washington, Chicago, Gaza, Wisconsin, Alexandria, Cortez of New York, New York, Westchester County, Congress, Palestine, Michigan, Dean Phillips of Minnesota, Palestinian, Jewish Diaspora, Cortez, Africa

(Reuters) -Comerica and Huntington Bancshares on Friday sharply cut their interest income growth forecasts for 2023, the latest U.S. banks to sound the alarm over faltering loan demand and spike in deposit costs. NII - the difference between what banks make on loans and pay out on deposits - rose for nearly all banks reporting earnings for the April-June quarter, with Comerica and Huntington also topping profit estimates. Mid-sized lender Regions Financial, which also reported results on Friday, said its deposit costs had risen in the second quarter. Comerica slashed its 2023 NII growth forecast to a range of 1% to 2% from 6% to 7% estimated earlier, and its shares fell 3.8%. Its shares slipped 1.3% in late-morning tradeRegions Financial kept its 2023 NII forecast unchanged but its stock declined 3.4%.

Persons: Huntington Bancshares, Mike Segar, Huntington, ”, Christopher Marinac, Janney Montgomery Scott, James Herzog Organizations: Reuters, Comerica, Huntington, Wall, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Federal, Financial, ” Comerica Locations: Manhattan, New York City , New York, U.S

☆ Netanyahu isn’t backing down on judicial overhaul despite pressure from Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Jerusalem CNN —On Thursday evening, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office announced a last-minute televised statement by Benjamin Netanyahu. But instead, despite the tens of thousands of protesters, the increase in refusals to serve by military reservists and even a very public and harsh criticism of the judicial overhaul plan by US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu refused to back down. He saved his harshest criticisms for two groups: the demonstrators on the streets and the military reservists who are refusing to serve in protest. “Citizens of Israel, all of the remarks about the destruction of democracy are simply absurd,” Netanyahu said. Should it pass, it will be the first aspect of the judicial overhaul to do so.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, “, ”, Isaac Herzog, Herzog, Biden, Israel, ” Herzog, New York Times ’ Thomas Friedman, ” Biden, Friedman, ” Netanyahu Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Prime Minister’s, New York Times, White, ” Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, United States, American, America

☆ Israel's Netanyahu to meet with Turkish President Erdogan in Turkey
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a statement at the Palmachim Air Force Base near the city of Rishon Lezion, Israel July 5, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File PhotoJERUSALEM, July 20 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on a state visit to Turkey at the end of the month, a statement from the Israeli prime minister's office said on Thursday. Once close regional allies, relations between Israel and Turkey were strained for more than a decade, with Ankara having expelled Israel's ambassador following a 2010 Israeli raid on a ship that led a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza, which killed 10 Turkish citizens. Relations began improving with high-level visits last year including Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Ankara. Reporting by Emily Rose; Editing by Chris Reese and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Israel's, Isaac Herzog's, Emily Rose, Chris Reese, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Palmachim Air Force Base, REUTERS, Relations, Thomson Locations: Rishon Lezion, Israel, Turkey, Ankara, Gaza

☆ Biden, Netanyahu and the Anti-Israel Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones, isaac, herzog, benjamin, netanyahu Organizations: biden

Scores of people set off on a 40-mile trek on foot from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On Tuesday, President Biden held a meeting with Mr. Herzog, who serves as Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, at the White House. Several lawmakers critical of Israel said they would boycott Mr. Herzog’s speech to Congress to protest the Israeli government’s policies. Some members of the Israeli military reserves have campaigned against the law, and labor unions have threatened general strikes. Scores of protesters were also marching from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, carrying blue-and-white Israeli flags and chanting “De-mo-cra-tya!” — Hebrew for democracy.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Biden, Herzog, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, ”, “ Organizations: Doctors, U.S, White, Mr, ”, United States Embassy Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, United States

[1/2] Israeli President Isaac Herzog looks on during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, not pictured, in Washington, DC, on October 25, 2022. Stefani Reynolds/Pool via REUTERSWASHINGTON, July 19 (Reuters) - Israeli President Isaac Herzog will address Congress on Wednesday, completing a visit aimed at reassuring the United States that Israel's democracy remains strong despite government attempts to overhaul the country's judicial system. The invitation was extended by the leaders of Congress last year to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel's founding. Biden had held off extending the invitation out of concern over Jewish settlements and the planned judicial overhaul. Proponents of the Israeli government's judicial overhaul say the country's Supreme Court has become too interventionist and that the change will facilitate effective governance.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Antony Blinken, Stefani Reynolds, Joe Biden, Herzog, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Biden, Chaim Herzog, Herzog's, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, Omar, Isaac Herzog’s, Narendra Modi's, Netanyahu, Barack Obama's, Patricia Zengerle, Don Durfee, Howard Goller Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli, U.S . House, Senate, West Bank, Washington, Twitter, Capitol, —, Indian, Democrats, Republicans, Democratic, White, Thomson Locations: Washington ,, REUTERS WASHINGTON, United States, Israel, Washington, Palestinian, Alexandria, Barack Obama's Iran

☆ Exclusive: Israeli bid for U.S. visa waiver hangs on Palestinian-American access test
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But progress has been hindered because of restrictions on entry to Israel for Palestinian Americans from the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Although it has not been advertised beforehand, Israeli and U.S. diplomatic sources said the trial would start on Thursday. U.S. officials assessing the trial will also focus on whether Palestinian Americans or other Arab Americans are subjected to selective grilling by Israeli security personnel. A U.S. official estimated that, of that number, between 45,000 and 60,000 were residents of the West Bank. An Israeli official gave lower figures, saying that out of 70,000 to 90,000 Palestinian Americans worldwide, about 15,000 to 20,000 were West Bank residents.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Eli Cohen, Washington's, Biden, Isaac Herzog, Dan Williams, Edmund Blair Organizations: U.S, Visa, West Bank, U.S . State Department and Homeland Security Department, Ben, Reuters, U.S . Embassy, Interior Ministry, National Security Council, Ben Gurion, BDS, Israel, Arab American Institute Foundation, West Bank ., Thomson Locations: Israel, JERUSALEM, U.S, United States, Palestinian, Ben Gurion, Tel Aviv, Ben, Jordan

☆ Protests Simmer in Israel as Country’s President Prepares to Address Congress
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Isabel Kershner | More About Isabel Kershner | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Small protests cropped up across Israel on Wednesday, illustrating the broad, grass-roots nature of popular opposition to plans by the government to overhaul the country’s judiciary, drawing in key sectors of the economy, the security establishment and society. Employees of Israel’s vaunted high-tech industry gathered on bridges and at busy junctions. Scores of people set off on a 40-mile trek on foot from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The protests appeared timed to coincide with a planned address to the U.S. Congress by President Isaac Herzog later on Wednesday that would come at a fraught period in the relations between Israel and the United States. On Tuesday, President Biden held a meeting with Mr. Herzog, who serves as Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, at the White House.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Biden, Herzog Organizations: Doctors, U.S, White Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, United States

☆ Israeli President Works to Ease Tensions With U.S., Calling Bond ‘Irreplaceable’
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Karoun Demirjian | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Isaac Herzog of Israel used an address to Congress on Wednesday to try to smooth over fresh tensions between his country and the United States, appealing to American lawmakers to continue investing in the “irreplaceable” relationship even as he acknowledged problems at home that have strained that bond. And he elicited applause from both Republicans and Democrats as he lauded the vibrancy of Israel’s democracy and recalled the 75-year alliance with the United States. “We are proud to be the United States’s closest partner and friend,” Mr. Herzog told lawmakers. “When the United States is strong, Israel is stronger. It also appeared aimed at reassuring Israelis, who have taken to the streets by the thousands to protest Mr. Netanyahu’s policies, that the country still values its democratic, pluralistic legacy.

Persons: Isaac Herzog of Israel, Herzog, Abraham, ” Mr, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Organizations: shepherding, Abraham Accords, Republicans, Democrats, Israel Locations: United States, Israel

CNN —Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to deliver an address to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday, in what is expected to mark a bipartisan show of support for a top strategic ally in the Middle East. There is widespread support for Israel on both sides of the aisle in Congress, but some House Democrats have said they’ll skip the address, citing concerns about human rights. Jayapal, a Washington state Democrat, said “Israel is a racist state” on Saturday while addressing pro-Palestine protesters who interrupted a panel discussion at the Netroots Nation conference in Chicago. “In May, I became the second Speaker of the US House of Representatives in history to address the Israeli Knesset, and now, it is my privilege to host Israeli President Isaac Herzog for a similar honor. The only other President of Israel to share this distinction is his father – President Chaim Herzog – more than 35 years ago,” McCarthy said in a statement at the time.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Herzog “, Pramila Jayapal, ” Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, Ted Lieu, “ Israel, who’s, ” Jayapal, “, Joe Biden, Herzog, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Chaim Herzog –, ” McCarthy Organizations: CNN, Israel, Democrats, West Bank, Democratic, ”, Democratic Rep, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Top, Palestine, Netroots, White Locations: California, New York, Israel, Washington, Chicago, Palestine, America

☆ Biden to welcome Israel’s Herzog to White House
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In a step that could ease some of the strain, the White House said on Monday that Biden and Netanyahu would meet in the coming months in the United States. The White House said the two men would “probably” meet before the end of the year. That left open the prospect of a meeting taking place away from the White House, potentially on the sidelines of the annual United Nations meetings in New York. The president didn’t answer directly when asked when Netanyahu would get a White House invitation. The lack of a White House invite has angered Netanyahu, who returned to office in December after previously serving as prime minister for more than a decade.

Persons: Isaac Herzog’s, Joe Biden, hasn’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden, Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Herzog, Chaim Herzog, Pramila Jayapal, Kamala Harris, John Kirby, Kirby, ”, “ Bibi, ” Biden, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria Organizations: CNN, White, West Bank, Democratic, Labor Party, National Security Council, United Nations Locations: Israel, Washington, United States, New York

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