US Def Sec Offers Pushback Against Judicial Reforms, Settler Violence

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III highlights the importance of democracy, strong institutions, and 'an independent judiciary' in a presser alongside Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at a press conference following their first in person meeting. The US is treading a fine line in its relations with the right-wing gov't of PM Benjamin Netanyahu, seeking to make clear its commitment to Israel's security but also offer pushback against proposed judicial reforms and recent Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

• Pentagon readout of meeting: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Arti...
• Raf Sanchez at NBC News: "Austin says he's grateful for Israel's participation in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group but says all democracies must do more to help Ukraine defeat Russia's invasion. Austin reiterates American opposition to "settlement expansion and inflammatory rhetoric...And we’re especially concerned about violence by settlers against Palestinians," he says, in wake of settler attacks on Palestinians in Hawara.