Netanyahu to Meet with Florida Governor DeSantis Amid Controversial Judicial Reforms in Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will meet with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during a high-profile trade mission. This comes as DeSantis considers a presidential bid. During an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Netanyahu also addressed the backlash sparked by the controversial judicial reforms proposed by his government.

Netanyahu said that the criticism of the reforms is an “internal matter that we have to resolve.” He added that there is a “broad consensus” that corrections need to be made to the judicial system. Protests against the reforms have been occurring in Israel since January 7, drawing hundreds of thousands of people into the streets.

The proposed reforms include an “override clause” which would remove the only check to lawmakers in Israel. Critics have decried this as undemocratic. Netanyahu said that he will meet with “everyone,” both Republican and Democratic governors, in order to maintain bipartisan support in the United States.

DeSantis’ office has not yet confirmed whether a meeting with Netanyahu has been scheduled. No comment was made in response to a request for comment. It remains to be seen what will come of the meeting between Netanyahu and DeSantis.