US VP Harris says Israel needs 'independent judiciary'

7/6/2023 11:30

        U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said on Tuesday that Israel's democracy requires "an independent judiciary," wading into the controversy over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial overhaul that has drawn mass protests in Israel.
        
        "America will continue to stand for the values that have been the bedrock of the U.S.-Israel relationship, which includes continuing to strengthen our democracies, which as the (Israeli) ambassador has said, are both built on strong institutions, checks and balances, and I'll add: an independent judiciary,"
        Harris said.
        
        The vice president spoke at a reception celebrating the 75th anniversary of Israel's founding hosted by the country's embassy in Washington. Her remarks on the judiciary drew applause.
        
        Harris also reiterated the Biden administration's "ironclad commitment to the security of Israel."
        
        Weeks of unprecedented street demonstrations followed Netanyahu's proposed package of reforms of the Supreme Court, which members of his religious-nationalist coalition accuse of overreach and elitism.