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Netanyahu Drops Most Controversial Part of Judicial Overhaul Plan, Seeks Middle Ground on Ukraine
(Wall Street Journal) Dov Lieber - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Wall Street Journal in an interview that he would drop the most controversial part of his judicial reform plan, eliminating a provision that would have given the Knesset the power to overturn rulings by the Supreme Court. Netanyahu also rejected calls to join the West's effort to arm Ukraine, saying, "We have concerns that I don't think any of the Western allies of Ukraine have." He said he needs to ensure Israel has "freedom of action" in Syria, where Israeli pilots often bomb Iranian targets in the vicinity of Russia forces. He is also concerned that Israeli weaponry could be captured and turned over to Iran, especially the Iron Dome air-defense system. "If that system were to fall into the hands of Iran, then millions of Israelis would be left defenseless and imperiled," Netanyahu said. He added that Israel had delivered to Ukraine an early-warning system for detecting missile attacks. Regarding the announcement that Netanyahu would soon visit China, his office said this would be his fourth China visit and that the U.S. was notified of the visit a month ago. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Beijing on June 18-19.