US President Joe Biden invited the Israeli prime minister to a meeting at the White House, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office reported Monday, adding that the invitation was accepted.

“President Biden has invited the prime minister to an upcoming meeting in the US. The prime minister has accepted the invitation,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.

The invitation comes as Netanyahu’s government continues to defend the disputed judicial reform project that has sparked demonstrations in Israel and even drawn criticism from the US administration.

During a phone call between the two leaders, Netanyahu “updated the US president on the law that should be passed by parliament next week, and his intention (…) to garner broad public support (…) for the remaining legislative process,” the Prime Minister’s Office indicated, referring to a “long and warm” conversation.

Last week, parliament passed at first reading a major reform measure aimed at nullifying the judiciary’s ability to judge “the logical nature” of government decisions.

Recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara

The announcement also comes on the day Israel formally recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, through a letter from Netanyahu to King Mohammed VI.unveiled the Alawite royal family.

In the message, Netanyahu informs Mohammed VI of Israel’s decision to “recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the territory of Western Sahara,” the official MAP news agency said in a statement.

Israel’s position coincides with the position taken in December 2020 by then-US President Donald Trump, who also recognized Rabat’s sovereignty over the former Spanish colony and provided the bargaining chip for the normalization of Morocco’s relations with Israel .

Herzog this Tuesday at the White House

The White House spokesman indicated last week that Biden would receive his Israeli counterpart Isaac Herzog at the White House this Tuesday.

Biden “will insist on the importance of the democratic values ​​we share and the means to advance freedom, prosperity and security for Palestinians and Israelis,” a White House spokeswoman said in a statement.

It also added that Biden will also reaffirm Washington’s “unfailing support” for the security of Israel, which this year celebrates the 75th anniversary of its founding.