US Confirms Blinken Visit As Washington Seeks Clarity On Gov't Programme

The US State Dep't has confirmed stories in the Israeli press that Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will visit Israel on Monday 30 January for talks with gov't officials. Comes as the US seeks clarity on the new gov'ts policies with relation to the West Bank and potential court reforms that have seen mass protests on the streets of major cities.

• PM Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Interior and Health Minister Aryeh Deri on 22 Jan following a court ruling that vetoed his appointment following past convictions for tax offences. this is in spite of a recent amendment to Israeli law by the Knesset that only rules individuals out from holding ministerial office if they have served time in prison.
• The Netanyahu gov't made reforms to the powerful Supreme Court a key plank of its gov't programme. Supporters of reform have said that the wide-ranging powers of the court are undemocratic in that they allow justices to strike down laws deemed unreasonable even if passed by the legislature, or veto the appointment of new judges. Critics have warned the reforms risk diluting what is seen as a critical check on the power of the executive.