While I strongly disagree with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to strip his country's judiciary of its independence, I equally disagree with President Biden's intervention in the matter especially with his public declaration that Netanyahu is persona non grata at the White House.
I think Biden is in the wrong here because one must ask if there are any other world leaders who can expect not to be invited to the White House or if this edict only applies to Israel. In so doing, it also potentially has the effect of weakening domestic opposition to Bibi's policy objectives. The power of Israeli civil society managed to get Netanyahu to delay implementation. But with Biden singling out Netanyahu while turning a blind eye to Iran's nuclear program, it will have the effect or rallying Israelis back to Bibi.
Biden unwillingness to invite Bibi to the White House gives Republicans an opening particularly House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. While McCarthy might be Marjorie Taylor Greene's man servant and may try to run interference against the Manhattan DA in its forthcoming indictment of defeated, former President Trump , Biden has given McCarthy a gift. Today, McCarthy praised Bibi as "an Israeli patriot" and "a great friend of the United States."
Since Bibi is not welcome at the White House, I think this is a prelude for McCarthy to invite Netanyahu to speak to a Joint Session of Congress just as John Boehner did with Bibi back in 2015. McCarthy doesn't have many cards to play so look for him to play it.
The only way McCarthy won't play this card is if the Biden White House takes a step back and lets Israeli civil society dissuade Netanyahu from ending the Jewish's state judicial independence. It isn't
too late for Biden to take this step back from the brink of disaster.
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