US President Joe Biden has invited the Israeli prime minister to a “meeting,” Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Monday, amid strained relations between the two governments.
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“President Biden has invited the Prime Minister to an upcoming meeting in the United States. “The prime minister has accepted the invitation,” said a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
The invitation comes at a time when Mr Netanyahu’s government continues to push for a controversial judicial reform bill that has sparked massive protests in Israel and about which Mr Biden has expressed concern.
In a phone call between the two leaders on Monday, Netanyahu “updated the US President on legislation expected to be passed in Parliament next week and his intention to try to build broad public support (…) for the… The rest to win.” The prime minister’s office points to the legislative process and speaks of a “long and warm” interview.
Parliament last week approved at first reading a key measure of the reform aimed at removing the judiciary’s ability to rule on the “reasonableness” of government decisions.
The White House spokesman indicated last week that President Biden will receive his Israeli counterpart, Isaac Herzog, at the White House on July 18.
Mr. Biden “will emphasize the importance of the democratic values we share and the means to advance freedom, prosperity and security for Palestinians and Israelis,” Karine Jean-Pierre said in a press release.
She added that Mr. Biden will also reaffirm Washington’s “unwavering support” for the security of Israel, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
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Israel has decided to recognize “Morocco’s sovereignty” over the disputed territory of Western Sahara, the royal cabinet said in Rabat on Monday, citing a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“With this letter, the Prime Minister of Israel drew attention to His Majesty the King (Mohammed VI) of the State of Israel’s decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory of Western Sahara,” the palace said in a press release.
King Mohammed VI accompanied by his son, Prince Moulay Hassan AFP
In his letter, Mr Netanyahu informed the sovereign that Israel was “looking positively at the opening of a consulate in the city of Dakhla,” located in the Kingdom-controlled part of Western Sahara.
In Jerusalem, when asked by AFP, Mr Netanyahu’s office said that “Israel confirms the details contained in the announcement” by the Moroccan authorities.
A former Spanish colony, Western Sahara is largely controlled by Morocco but claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, who are backed by Algeria.
Morocco and Israel normalized diplomatic relations in December 2020 under the Abraham Accords, a Washington-backed process between Israel and several Arab countries.
In return, Rabat had received recognition from Washington of “Moroccan sovereignty” over Western Sahara.