Following the Knesset’s final approval of the first law of the judicial overhaul, which curtails the Supreme Court’s oversight ability, the United States has made it clear that it will not reduce military aid to Israel. Moreover, the passage of legislation to cancel the reasonableness standard will not have a detrimental impact on the special relationship between the two countries. This assurance was given by Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesman for the US State Department, during a press briefing on Tuesday.
“There is not going to be any cut or stoppage of military aid, and that is because our commitment to Israel and our commitment to Israel’s security is ironclad. Our decades-long partnership with Israel is ironclad,” Patel said during the department’s daily briefing.
“We understand that the talks on attempts at a compromise on judicial reform will continue in the coming weeks and months with the aim of reaching a consensus through dialogue. I am not one to speculate about the success of the talks, but there are internal talks, in order to reach a broader consensus,” he said.
“It is clear that the legislation has consequences for people’s day-to-day lives, and that is why we said that such changes in democracy require a broad consensus,” he added.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a phone conversation with Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday evening. This call came after Gallant’s efforts in the Knesset plenum to amend the law regarding the elimination of the reasonableness standard were unsuccessful. The focus of the conversation was on the importance of achieving a broad consensus within Israel.
During the call, Austin stressed that political dialogue and fostering broad consensus are essential aspects of a resilient democracy. He reiterated the United States’ unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and emphasized their dedication to deepening military cooperation.
Gallant, in response, expressed his primary objective of uniting the defense establishment and maintaining the Israeli Defense Forces’ proficiency in dealing with various security challenges. He affirmed Israel’s position as a strong democracy, and they discussed regional challenges and the IDF’s military preparedness.
The conversation also delved into IDF activities in Jenin, West Bank. Gallant highlighted the significance of a functioning Palestinian Authority in maintaining security. However, he assured that in areas where the Palestinian Authority lacks control, the IDF will continue to ensure security.
Austin raised concerns about extremist settler violence against Palestinian civilians and encouraged efforts to enhance economic opportunities for Palestinians in the West Bank.
Gallant brought up the importance of completing the sale of the Arrow 3 system from Israel to Germany, expressing gratitude for the extensive support provided by the US in bolstering Israel’s security and maintaining its qualitative edge in the Middle East.
{Matzav.com}
Israel increases its drive to keep security.
Growth of branded choice for a wage would be nice. If Israel holds onto good value after reform, choices may face equal need.