Netanyahu ignores Biden — and masses of Israeli protesters — to step back from democracy

President Biden and other U.S. leaders have voiced objections to the law and urged the Israeli government to seek consensus as massive demonstrations continued to fill Israeli streets week after week. Though Washington gives Israel billions of dollars for security each year, that aid is considered sacrosanct, giving U.S. officials little leverage. Netanyahu owes his seat in power to a coalition of ultranationalist lawmakers and is essentially captive to them. Israeli police disperse demonstrators blocking a road during a protest in Jerusalem on Monday against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system. That's despite the fact, Makovsky said, that Biden has the support of the majority of the Israeli public.