US chides Israel over judicial overhaul

WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday called it "unfortunate" that Israel's parliament ratified part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's contested judicial overhaul, defying US President Joe Biden, as the law triggers a new burst of mass protests in Israel.

Biden's administration reiterated its long-standing concerns after Israel's Knesset approved an initial bill aimed at curbing the Supreme Court's powers despite months of street protests and appeals from the US and other countries to hold off and negotiate with the opposition.

The vote showed the limits of Biden's ability to rein in the divisive judicial overhaul.