PM Netanyahu Discusses Judiciary, Iran, Ukraine w/US' Blinken

Comments from the meeting of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken hitting wires. Blinken is in the Middle East on a three-day visit, with the trip coming at a time of heightened Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Blinken seen as attempting to avoid repeat of violent incidents that have seen Israeli and Palestinian civilian casualties in recent days, with the risk of wider escalations in Gaza or the West Bank.

• Netanyahu states that he 'will do everything within Israel's power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them'. Comes in the aftermath of a drone attack on an Iranian military-industrial facility that, according to Reuters, a US official indicated was carried out by Israel.
• Blinken states that 'the US commitment to defending Israel remains iron-clad', and that the two discussed Ukraine's defences against Russia. US trying to push Israel to ramp up support for Ukraine. However, the country has a sizeable ethnic Russian minority, making it politically difficult for Netanyahu to offer full backing to Kyiv.
• Blinken offers a vague statement on controversial judicial reforms being pushed by Netanyahu gov't, saying that “Building a consensus around new proposals is the best way to make sure they are embraced and endure."