The Israeli cabinet on Sunday approved a resolution that will allow it to significantly speed up the process of approving new building in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Why it matters: The resolution limits the amount of control the prime minister and the defense minister have over approving building plans in the settlements, effectively curbing the ability of the U.S. and other countries to press the government to suspend such plans.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met today with senior Chinese officials in Beijing, as the U.S. and China try to reduce tensions in their bilateral relationship, which is at its lowest point in decades.
Why it matters: Blinken is the first U.S. secretary of state to visit China in five years, and the most senior Biden administration official to make the trip. It comes as part of an effort to stabilize ties and restore normal channels of communication.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced during a cabinet meeting on Sunday that this week he will unilaterally resume the legislation process of the government's controversial plan to weaken the Supreme Court and other democratic institutions.
Why it matters: Resuming the legislation process without an agreement with the opposition on the judicial overhaul is expected to give new momentum to the anti-government protests and reignite internal political tensions. It will also likely increase tensions between the Biden administration and Netanyahu's far-right government.
At the request of his U.S. counterpart, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is expected in the coming days to speak to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov for the first since taking office more than five months ago, two senior Israeli defense officials told Axios.
Why it matters: The Israeli government has taken a careful approach to the war in Ukraine, hoping not to create tension with Russia and harm Israeli security interests in Syria. But the Pentagon has for months pressed Israel to do more to help Kyiv.
Brett McGurk, President Biden’s senior Middle East adviser, arrived in Saudi Arabia this weekend for talks with Saudi officials that will focus on the administration's efforts to reach a normalization agreement between Israel and the kingdom as well as other issues, two U.S. officials told Axios.
Why it matters: McGurk's trip, first reported by the NYT, is part of an effort by the White House to make a diplomatic push for a Saudi-Israeli peace deal in the next six to seven months before the presidential election campaign consumes President Biden’s agenda, as Axios reported last month.
