US President Joe Biden stressed, in contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that democratic values are the basis of the US-Israeli relationship.
During the call, Biden offered to support ongoing efforts to reach a settlement on judicial reforms.
For its part, Netanyahu’s office said that the Israeli prime minister briefed Biden on the Hawara incident that took place on Saturday, injuring an Israeli citizen.
The Israeli statement referred to Netanyahu’s assertion of “the continuation of action everywhere once morest saboteurs and the architects of terrorism.”
Regarding judicial reform, the statement said that Netanyahu “assured President Biden that Israel was and will remain a strong and vibrant democracy.”
The conversation between Biden and Netanyahu also focused on “the Iranian threat and expanding the circle of peace.”
The following are the main points on which the contact between Biden and Netanyahu focused:
- Biden welcomed the March 19 meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, between senior political and security officials from Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Jordan and the United States aimed at reducing tensions.
- Biden stressed the need for all parties to take urgent and cooperative steps to enhance security coordination, condemn all acts of terrorism, and preserve the viability of the two-state solution.
- Biden offered his support for ongoing efforts to reach a compromise on proposed judicial reforms in Israel consistent with those basic principles.
- Biden and Netanyahu discussed tensions and violence in the West Bank.
- Biden reiterated his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and continued cooperation between the two countries’ national security teams, including countering all threats posed by Iran.
- Biden and Netanyahu have agreed to remain in regular contact over the coming weeks.
