President Biden in a statement to Axios called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to move forward with the planned Israeli Knesset vote on a bill that is part of the government's judicial overhaul, saying he is highly concerned about the legislation and its potential implications.
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.
Congressional staffers are scrambling to save family vacations, destination weddings, mission trips and more as desperate constituents flood Capitol Hill with pleas for help in dealing with unprecedented passport delays.
Why it matters: Many U.S. Senate and House offices that typically help a couple dozen Americans expedite passports each year have juggled hundreds to thousands of cases this year — and appeals for help have soared in the summer travel season.
/2023/07/20/1689880131260.gif?w=3840)