The big picture: Thousands of Israeli reservists, including fighter pilots and members of the intelligence, cyber and special operations units in the IDF, have said in recent days they will not report to duty if the bill, which would limit the ability of the country’s Supreme Court to review government actions, passes in the Knesset. The vote is scheduled for Monday.
- The Pentagon is concerned that the crisis facing the Israeli military could have negative implications for Israel’s deterrence strategy and encourage Iran or Hezbollah to conduct military provocations that could escalate the situation in the region, a U.S. official told Axios.
- The crisis, especially within the Israeli air force, could also have negative operational implications for U.S. forces that closely cooperate with Israel in the region.
What he’s saying: From the perspective of Israel’s friends in the United States, “it looks like the current judicial reform proposal is becoming more divisive, not less,” Biden said in the statement.
Driving the news: Anti-government demonstrations reached unprecedented levels over the weekend when tens of thousands of Israelis marched from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in extreme heat to protest against the legislation.