<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">US Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday renewed calls for Israel to ensure independence of its judiciary, after major protests against changes pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Harris spoke at a gala reception to mark 75 years of the Jewish state organized by the Israeli embassy at a museum in Washington.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The number-two US leader promised "ironclad commitment to the security of Israel" but also alluded to Netanyahu's judicial proposals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Under President Joe Biden and our administration, America will continue to stand for the values that have been the bedrock of the US-Israel relationship, which include continuing to strengthen our democracy," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The two countries' values are "built on strong institutions, checks and balances and, I'll add, an independent judiciary," she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Netanyahu, leading the most right-wing government in Israel's history, has proposed curtailing the authority of the Supreme Court and giving politicians greater powers over the selection of judges.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After massive street protests and boycotts of military reserve duty by critics who say he is destroying democracy, Netanyahu in March announced a "pause" to allow for talks on the reforms.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Biden said at the time that he was "very concerned" about Netanyahu's proposal, leading to rebukes from some of the Israeli leader's right-wing allies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Harris also renewed support for an independent Palestinian state -- rejected by much of Netanyahu's base -- saying that Israelis and Palestinians should "enjoy equal measures of freedom, prosperity and democracy."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Harris attended the reception with her husband Doug Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a US president or vice president, and said that as a girl she collected donations for the Jewish National Fund which develops land for Israeli communities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"Today, under the leadership of President Joe Biden, the United States has an unbreakable bond with the State of Israel," she said. AFP</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>