The United States has urged Israel to come to a compromise as soon as possible after protests continue to spread across the nation.
QUICK FACTS:
- The U.S. “strongly urges” leaders in Israel to reach a compromise after protests grow in response to the firing of the country’s defense minister, a White House spokesperson said Sunday.
- “We continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible. We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens,” White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson wrote in a statement.
- According to Watson, Biden believes “democratic values” are a core value in the U.S. relationship with Israel and should be preserved.
- “As the President recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” Watson continued.
THE U.S. ON UPHOLDING ‘DEMOCRATIC SOCIETIES’:
“Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances, and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support,” a White House spokesperson said.
BACKGROUND:
- Thousands of Israelis took to the streets over the weekend, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired defense minister Yoav Gallant.
- Gallant was let go after urging the government to halt a planned judicial overhaul that has divided the country.
- While Netanyahu says the plan will restore a balance between the judicial and executive branches, critics say the new set of laws will give too much power to the government and diminish the checks and balances set in place.
- “The country is facing the greatest danger since the Yom Kippur War,” former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said. “I call on the prime minister to withdraw Galant’s dismissal letter, suspend the reform and begin negotiations until after the Day of Independence.”
