/US: Biden & Netanyahu Trade Barbs Over Judicial Overhaul

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that his government will not make political decisions based on overseas pressure, even from "the best of friends," after U.S. President Joe Biden last night slammed him for putting the health of Israel's democracy at risk.

• Speaking to reporters, Biden called on Netanyahu to "walk away" from his judicial reform plans and seek "genuine compromise." The POTUS noted that the Israeli leader "cannot continue down this road," adding that he has "sort of made that clear."
• Adding insult to injury, Biden told the media that he did not spoke with Netanyahu as the Israeli political crisis unfolded but relayed his concerns through the U.S. ambassador. Contrary to earlier source reports, he said that Netanyahu will not be invited to the White House in the near term.
• Netanyahu responded by insisting that he is trying to restore a "proper balance between the three branches of government, which we are striving to achieve via a broad consensus," and noted that his administration will make decisions "by the will of its people and not based on pressures from abroad."
• Biden's statement came under criticism from several ruling coalition members this morning. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir told Army Radio that Israel is "an independent country and not another star on the U.S. flag."