Israel

Widespread protests broke out Sunday in Israel over pending legislation that would overhaul the nation's judiciary. Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin ...

The administration has known for a while that this Netanyahu-led coalition is an unusually extreme one, but it had hoped that Netanyahu could keep it in line. As a result, Biden administration officials had said they intended to hold him responsible for whatever happened. Barak urged Israelis to resort to mass civil disobedience to block the judicial reforms. Netanyahu’s package of judicial changes would essentially strip Israel’s top court of its independence and defang the nation’s courts by making it possible for the government to pass legislation that can’t be reviewed by judges. Protests against the measures have been widespread for weeks. “We are deeply concerned by today’s developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister on Sunday, a day after he called on the Israeli leader to halt a planned judicial overhaul that ...

The Movement for Quality Government said the court had given Netanyahu and the attorney general a week to respond. “The prime minister will be forced to bow his head before the law and comply with the provisions of the law.” If Netanyahu continues to intervene in the overhaul, Baharav-Miara could launch an investigation into whether he violated the conflict of interest agreement, which could lead to additional charges against him, Lurie said. That declaration prompted the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, to warn that Netanyahu was breaking his conflict of interest agreement by entering the fray. It also seeks to pass laws that would grant parliament the authority to override Supreme Court decisions with a basic majority and limit judicial review of laws. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv, blocking a main highway, following the announcement.

Tens of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets in protest after Netanyahu's announcement, blocking Tel Aviv's main artery.

"The prime minister will be forced to bow his head before the law and comply with the provisions of the law." That declaration prompted the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, to warn that Netanyahu was breaking his conflict of interest agreement by entering the fray. Netanyahu is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate affairs involving wealthy associates and powerful media moguls. Instead, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close confidant of Netanyahu, is spearheading the overhaul. It also seeks to pass laws that would grant parliament the authority to override Supreme Court decisions with a basic majority and limit judicial review of laws. I believe that this reform undermines the very foundation of our democratic system and threatens the rule of law in our country. A growing number of Israeli reservists, including fighter pilots, have threatened to withdraw from voluntary duty in the past weeks. "I have become increasingly concerned with the policies of the new government, and in particular, the judicial reform it is leading. "Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances, and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support," Watson added. Netanyahu's dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the prime minister and his allies will barrel ahead this week with the overhaul plan. "I see how the source of our strength is being eroded," Gallant said. Culture Minister Micky Zohar, a Netanyahu confidant, said the party would support him if he decided to pause the judicial overhaul.

Tens of thousands demonstrate after the removal of Yoav Gallant - who spoke out against controversial judicial reforms.

She added that "fundamental changes" to a democratic system should be "pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support". "Netanyahu can fire Gallant, but he can't fire reality or fire the people of Israel who are fronting up to resist the coalition's madness," Mr Lapid added. After he was fired, Mr Gallant took to Twitter to reaffirm: "The state of Israel's security has always been and will always be my life's mission." The prime minister wants to get the new legislation through parliament by the end of the week. Mr Netanyahu - who was out of the country at the time of Mr Gallant's TV appearance - said he no longer had faith in him as defence minister. Mr Netanyahu says the reforms are designed to stop the courts over-reaching their powers and that they were voted for by the public at the last election.

We are deeply concerned by today's developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise. As the President recently discussed ...

We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances, and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support. As the President recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Tens of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets of cities to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firing his defense minister for challenging the ...

That declaration prompted the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, to warn that Netanyahu was breaking his conflict of interest agreement. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets over the past three months to demonstrate against the plan in the largest demonstrations in the country's 75-year history. Instead, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close confidant of Netanyahu, is spearheading the overhaul. A growing number of Israeli reservists, including fighter pilots, have threatened to withdraw from voluntary duty if the laws are passed. It also seeks to pass laws that would would grant parliament the authority to overturn Supreme Court decisions and limit judicial review of laws. It said he was not above the law. Netanyahu's dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the prime minister and his allies will barrel ahead this week with the overhaul plan. They also say that Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has a conflict of interest. "I see how the source of our strength is being eroded," Gallant said. Culture Minister Micky Zohar, a Netanyahu confidant, said the party would support him if he decided to pause the judicial overhaul. Police scuffled with protesters and sprayed the crowd with a water cannon. Inon Aizik, 27, said he came to demonstrate outside Netanyahu's private residence in central Jerusalem because "bad things are happening in this country."

El presidente ceremonial de Israel insta a Netanyahu a frenar su controvertida reforma legal tras protestas masivas.

Masivas multitudes llenaron las calles de la ciudad israelí de Tel Aviv, Israel, a última hora de la noche de este domingo, después de que el primer ...

A la hora de la verdad se derrumbó bajo la presión de los medios de comunicación y los manifestantes. Las universidades de Israel irán a la huelga a partir de este lunes, según anunciaron, y el mayor sindicato del país y líderes empresariales dijeron que darían una rueda de prensa este lunes por la mañana. El ministro de Seguridad Nacional de Israel, el ultraderechista Itamar Ben Gvir, había pedido a Netanyahu que despidiera a Gallant tras su discurso del sábado. El cónsul general de Israel en Nueva York, Asaf Zamir, dimitió en respuesta a la decisión de Netanyahu de despedir a Gallant. El propio Netanyahu no ha dado indicios de que vaya a echarse atrás. Pero los legisladores pueden abstenerse o ausentarse, lo que reduce el número de votos que necesita una ley para ser aprobada. "Esta noche Netanyahu ha puesto la política y a sí mismo por encima de la seguridad". Un funcionario de la oficina de Netanyahu dijo que el Primer Ministro había perdido la confianza en Gallant, añadiendo que no había autorizado los comentarios con antelación y había "saboteado así los esfuerzos por alcanzar una solución." El ex primer ministro israelí Yair Lapid calificó el despido de Gallant de "nuevo mínimo". "Cuando la casa está ardiendo, no se pregunta quién tiene razón, sino que se echa agua y se salva a sus ocupantes", tuiteó el ministro de Cultura y Deportes, Miki Zohar. Los comentarios del ahora despedido ministro de Defensa Gallant, que es miembro del partido Likud de Netanyahu, alteraron el ya delicadamente equilibrado gobierno de coalición de Israel. Gallant abogó por detener las reformas judiciales en un discurso pronunciado este sábado por la noche, cuando Netanyahu se encontraba fuera del país en visita oficial al Reino Unido.

La protesta se produjo después de que el primer ministro Benjamin Netanyahu destituyera al ministro de Defensa por cuestionar el plan de reforma judicial ...

"Necesitamos detener las manifestaciones y protestas, y buscar el diálogo. Cualquier cosa que dañe la fortaleza del Ejército y el sistema de seguridad debe detenerse de inmediato", agregó, en alusión al masivo movimiento popular en rechazo a la reforma y al creciente número de reservistas del Ejército que se niegan a entrenar y a servir a modo de protesta por la misma medida. En paralelo, se registraron también multitudinarias manifestaciones de norte a sur del país, incluyendo grandes concentraciones en las ciudades de Haifa, en el norte del país, y Beer Sheva, en el sur.

Israel is set for one of the most pivotal days in its domestic history, with parts of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition debating whether to ...

Mr. The court also supported the eviction of all Israeli settlers from Gaza in 2005 — a pivotal moment that cemented the settler leadership’s desire for a judicial overhaul. Netanyahu said he was stepping into the fray to find a solution that would both ensure majority rule and safeguard individual rights, “and in order to prevent a rift in the nation.” “The reform of the justice system must not be stopped and we must not surrender to anarchy,” Mr. A looming constitutional crisis resulting from the overhaul could lead to the resignation or firing of the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, and a more compliant replacement could order a review of the case against Mr. Deri had been appointed to the powerful positions of interior minister and health minister in the new government before Mr. The government also wants to weaken the authority of the attorney general, the government’s independent legal counsel, among other things. In a sign of rifts in Mr. As the leader of Shas, an ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party and the second-largest party in the coalition after Mr. The law previously barred any politician convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison from taking a ministerial role for seven years after release. The coalition holds a majority of 64 in the 120-seat Parliament. to race through the formalities needed to pass the first part of the overhaul into law.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition plunged into chaos on Monday, after mass overnight protests over the sacking of his defence chief ...

The United States said it was deeply concerned by Sunday's events and saw an urgent need for compromise, while repeating calls to safeguard democratic values. "This is a hostile takeover of the State of Israel. "Bring back the country's sanity. and accusations comparing the bill to militant groups that want the destruction of Israel. But, amid reports that his nationalist-religious coalition risked breaking apart, Israeli TV stations said the statement was postponed. Shame!"

Thousands took to the streets on Sunday after Benjamin Netanyahu sacked his defence minister for opposing the controversial changes.

The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. The eyes of the whole world are on you.” The eyes of the entire Jewish people are on you. Avi Dichter, a former chief of the Shin Bet security agency, is expected to replace Gallant. “I believe it is my duty to ensure that Israel remains a beacon of democracy and freedom in the world.” Yoav Gallant had [called on the prime minister to scrap the proposals](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/25/tel-aviv-demonstrations-against-benjamin-netanyahu-judicial-overhaul-israel) which have divided the country, led to mass protests and sparked growing discontent within the military.

Las protestas se recrudecen en el país después de que el primer ministro haya sacado del gobierno a un ministro crítico.

En un durísimo discurso, Herzog ha reconocido que las protestas que se repiten en diferentes ciudades del país son un riesgo para la seguridad y habla incluso del peligro de una «guerra civil». Este gesto sacó espontáneamente a miles de personas a las calles, algunas fuentes hablan de más de 600.000 personas, y hoy se esperan nuevas concentraciones. Cree Herzog que es necesario «actuar con responsabilidad y valentía» ante las críticas y protestas que sacuden el país.

Sunday night saw news scenes of unrest, after Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who became the first member of the ruling Likud Party to speak ...

Netanyahu’s planned reforms could lead to a “brain drain” in Israel and discourage international students, the statement added. This is the time that we together say ‘enough’ and it doesn’t matter if we are right or left,” Histadrut said in a statement. The cities Beersheba, Haifa and Jerusalem also saw unrest. Peter Lerner, head of international relations at Histadrut, the Israeli trade union umbrella group representing some 700,000 workers, tweeted a video of cheering activists. Gallant had warned that divisions over the plans threatened Israel’s security. It was not clear when or even if he would speak on Monday.

Mass protests have erupted in Israel in recent months over controversial judicial reforms pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

This is not a political moment, this is a moment for leadership and responsibility." It is proof that this government has lost its brakes," he said, calling on Netanyahu to walk back his firing of his defense minister. "We must all strive to stabilise the government and coalition." The planned overhaul would significantly weaken the country's judiciary and make it harder to remove Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, from power. McDonald's Israel says it has closed branches as part of the strike action. "Stop this judicial process before it is too late," Arnon Bar-David, Israel's Histadrut union leader, said in a televised speech, addressing Netanyahu directly.

Netanyahu's proposal to reduce the power of the Supreme Court has sharply divided Israeli society, battered markets and left the country increasingly ...

A senior security official laid out on Sunday why Gallant felt the need to speak. Then Netanyahu gave a speech saying he was moving ahead with key portions of the bill but promised to protect individual and minority rights. We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens.” The bill’s proponents say that in nearly every democracy, winners of elections get to select judges, and they are bringing Israel in line with that practice. The proposed legislation is split up into a series of bills. They spilled out into the road waving Israeli flags and blocking traffic, making a main highway impassible for hours.

At its core, the judicial overhaul would give the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, and therefore the parties in power, more control over Israel's judiciary.

But his decision to fire Gallant on Sunday, a day after the defense minister called for a pause in the government’s drive to overhaul the country’s judicial system, sparked turmoil. Instead of having the vast majority of the appointed seats on the committee, the government-appointed members would have a one-seat majority. Would the Supreme Court strike down the laws, and if so, how would the government respond? Complicating matters further, should the bills pass parliament the Supreme Court must then potentially decide on laws curbing its own power. According to polling released in February by the Israel Democracy Institute, only a minority of Israelis support the reforms. As part of a deal with the court to serve as a prime minister despite being on trial, Netanyahu accepted a conflict of interest declaration. Protest organizers say they plan to intensify their demonstrations until the legislation is halted. Members of the typically apolitical high-tech sector have also spoken out against the reforms. Israel’s Supreme Court has no influence on what happens in Gaza, which is ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Several former Mossad chiefs have also spoken out against the reforms, warning division over the issue is harming Israeli security. The Attorney General determined that the declaration meant Netanyahu could not be involved in the policy-making of the judicial overhaul. They argue the Supreme Court has overstepped its role, getting into issues it should not rule on.

Mass protests broke out in Israel on Sunday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired defense minister Yoav Gallant over his opposition to a ...

Israel’s Supreme Court has no influence on what happens in Gaza, which is ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. At the same time, Palestinian activists have argued that the high court has further entrenched Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, having never considered the legality of Israeli settlements there, even though they’re considered illegal by most of the international community. Last year, for example, the court halted the evictions of Palestinian families in the flashpoint neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, where Jewish groups have claimed ownership of land the families have lived on for decades.

Protesters have called for the reforms to be scrapped and for the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to resign. His political rivals have spearheaded the ...

The government argues that voters elected it on a promise of reforming the judiciary and attempts to stop it are undemocratic. One reform has already been passed into law - removing the power of the attorney general to pronounce a sitting prime minister as unfit for office. Since the start of the year, huge weekly protests have been held by people opposed to the government's reform plans.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition was debating whether to delay judicial changes that have set off civil unrest. Work stoppages spread, with a ...

The court also supported the eviction of all Israeli settlers from Gaza in 2005 — a pivotal moment that cemented the settler leadership’s desire for a judicial overhaul. Mr. Netanyahu said he was stepping into the fray to find a solution that would both ensure majority rule and safeguard individual rights, “and in order to prevent a rift in the nation.” Netanyahu from involvement in the plans for the court overhaul, citing a court-imposed agreement to avoid conflicts of interest that he had signed because of his trial. Deri had been appointed to the powerful positions of interior minister and health minister in the new government before Mr. As the leader of Shas, an ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party and the second-largest party in the coalition after Mr. “We are not ready for any compromise that will harm the independence of the Supreme Court and the primacy of the law,” it added. At the rally, there was talk of both the need to fight the judicial overhaul as well as ending the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. Employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem were also on strike. Netanyahu in a difficult position as he seeks to hang on to the allies that helped bring him back to power. [standing trial on charges of corruption](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/03/world/middleeast/netanyahu-corruption-charges-israel.html), and opponents feared that his plans might make it easier for him to push through legislation in the future that could allow him to avoid any punishment. Netanyahu the breathing room to step back and try to de-escalate the protests that have ground Israel to a halt.

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 27. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty ...

“The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who has strongly advocated for the reform to be pushed through, opened the door to the possibility of a delay on Monday. The eyes of all the Jewish people are on you. Opponents say the plans threaten the foundations of Israeli democracy. The eyes of the whole world are on you. Some military reservists have pledged to pull out of their service in opposition to the plans, which critics say would undermine the independence of the judiciary. We have been taken hostage by a bunch of extremists with no brakes and no boundaries,” he said. All takeoffs from Israel’s main airport, Ben Gurion Tel Aviv, were halted for several hours because of the strike. Gallant argued for a halt to the judicial reforms in a speech Saturday night, when Netanyahu was out of the country on an official visit to the United Kingdom. For the sake of the unity of Israelis, for the sake of committed responsibility I call on you to halt the legislative procedure immediately.” We are brotherly people,” he said on Twitter. In a statement issued later, Lapid called the past 24 hours “madness,” “loss of control” and “loss of direction.”

Strikes and protests are taking place in Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired defense minister Yoav Gallant over his opposition to a ...

Universities to strike Monday: Universities in Israel will go on strike starting Monday, they announced, and the country’s largest labor union and business leaders said they would hold a news conference on Monday morning. Under the proposals, the government would have control over the appointment of judges, and parliament would gain the power to override Supreme Court decisions. The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. They include Diaspora Affairs and Social Equality Minister Amichai Chikli, Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar and Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who warned the overhaul plan has brought the country to the brink of civil war. The eyes of all the Jewish people are on you. I call on all the demonstrators and all Israeli citizens — do everything without violence, without bloodshed. Other ministers speak out: Following Gallant's comments, three other Israeli government ministers — all members of Netanyahu’s Likud party — suggested that the prime minister should stop the judicial overhaul legislation. “We need to stop the demonstrations and protests — and reach out for dialogue. The cabinet has also pushed forward a plan to weaken the judiciary that has brought hundreds of thousands of Israeli protesters to the streets as well as criticism from Israel’s closest allies. is that the interests of American Jews and Israel have been diverging for many years, but it’s been papered over,” Thomas Friedman wrote in the New York Times this month. In its latest move, the US State Department last week summoned Israeli Ambassador Michael Herzog after Israel’s parliament passed legislation that allows Jewish settlements to be rebuilt in parts of the occupied West Bank. It was a rare public rebuke of a sitting Israeli minister that brought together individuals from across the Jewish-American political spectrum.

Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan. The growing resistance to Netanyahu's plan came hours after tens of ...

Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant appeared to signal that the prime minister and his allies would barrel ahead. Some members of Netanyahu’s Likud party said they would support the prime minister if he did heed calls to halt the overhaul. Netanyahu returned to power late last year after a protracted political crisis that sent Israelis to the polls five times in less than four years. The architect of the plan, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a popular party member, was long a holdout, promising he would resign if the overhaul was suspended. Israeli media reported that a lawyer representing the prime minister in his corruption trial threatened to quit if the overhaul was not halted. A parliamentary committee approved the legislation on Monday for a final vote, which could come this week. The developments were being watched in Washington, which is closely allied with Israel yet has been uneasy with Netanyahu and the far-right elements of his government. “I’m here for the fight to the end.” Chanting “the country is on fire,” they lit bonfires on Tel Aviv’s main highway, closing the thoroughfare and many others throughout the country for hours. “The entire nation is rapt with deep worry. The turmoil has magnified longstanding and intractable differences over Israel’s character that have riven it since its establishment. Departing flights from the country’s main international airport were grounded, large mall chains and universities shut their doors, and Israel’s largest trade union called for its 800,000 members — in health, transit, banking and other fields — to stop work.

Strikes and protests are taking place in Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired defense minister Yoav Gallant over his opposition to a ...

More than 90 House Democrats also wrote to Biden earlier this month urging him to strongly condemn the judicial proposals. A US official said Biden is likely to have another call with Netanyahu in the coming days, but cautioned that the timing was fluid. He declined to answer questions about Israel as he returned to the White House Sunday evening.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial overhaul has unleashed the most intense social unrest in Israel in decades.

A pause would help ease the tensions and buy Netanyahu some time to find a compromise. Levin, the justice minister who has led the efforts to rush the plan through parliament, said he would respect Netanyahu’s wishes if he called for a delay. Doctors and day care workers said they would stay off the job, and others were expected to join as well. In security-obsessed Israel, Gallant, a gruff retired general, is among the most respected members of the new Cabinet. They also say Netanyahu has a deep conflict of interest in trying to reshape the legal system while on trial. Israeli media, citing unnamed officials inside Netanyahu’s Likud party, said he was expected to delay his plan. With morale down and soldiers threatening not to report for duty, Gallant said that pushing ahead could hurt Israel’s military readiness. The decision was felt almost immediately. But the eruption of anger over Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s dismissal, organized quickly largely via the WhatsApp messaging app, was startling. After he was indicted, Netanyahu’s former governing partners turned on him, and he was unable to form a stable, lasting coalition. The union joins business leaders, bank chiefs, fighter pilots, military reservists, academics, former security commanders and other influential sectors of society in coming out against the plan. Israel’s largest trade union declared a general strike – paralyzing the country’s international airport – and thousands of people gathered outside parliament for another day of protests.

Protesters streamed on to Israel's streets overnight, as thousands voiced their opposition to a controversial justice reform bill.

when the house is on fire, you don’t ask who is right,” according to a translation. Protests have simmered in Israel for months, since the planned changes were rolled out in December. He called for an "historic" strike to begin on Monday. Arrivals will continue to land at the airport, although as many as 35,000 people were expected to have their travel disrupted. On Saturday, he called for a pause in the controversial legislation until after next month's Independence Day holiday, citing the threat to Israel's national security. Military and business leaders have also spoken out against the plan.

JERUSALEM (AP) — A powerful partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government says the country's proposed judicial overhaul has been delayed ...

“When there’s an opportunity to avoid civil war through dialogue, I, as prime minister, am taking a timeout for dialogue,” Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. In a statement, Ben-Gvir said the interim period would give time for a compromise agreement to be reached with the political opposition. [judicial overhaul plan](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/tens-of-thousands-in-israel-protest-in-effort-to-stop-netanyahus-planned-overhaul-of-nations-judiciary), saying he wanted to give time to seek a compromise over the contentious package with his political opponents.

Mass protests are taking place in Israel over the firing of defense minister Yoav Gallant, after he spoke out against plans to weaken the country's judicial ...

ESTRIN: Well, if he does announce that he's freezing the core part of the legislation, which would be allowing the government to have some control over appointing Supreme Court justices - if he does freeze that legislation, he could try to hold a dialogue with the opposition and reach a compromise. If he does come out - and he is right now huddling with his government, trying to understand whether his government could fall if he announces he's canceling this legislation. But whether or not he manages to survive this and actually stay in power with such massive protests - it's really hard to see that, A. There was a spontaneous protest, erupted in the middle of the road, thousands of protesters, because Netanyahu fired his defense minister. It was supposed to go to a final vote today. Protesters have gathered outside the Parliament, where Netanyahu's coalition is preparing for a final vote on the legislation, even as Israeli media report Netanyahu may be considering a freeze.

The overhaul has in the past 3 months led to an unprecedented political and social crisis in Israel, and destabalized its economy.

He also said he would work to stabilize the coalition in order to prevent the government from collapsing. - Senior members inside the Likud are pressing Netanyahu to cancel his decision to fire Gallant. [Itamar Ben-Gvir](https://www.axios.com/2023/01/03/ben-gvir-jerusalem-temple-mount-aqsa-compound-visit), who had threatened to resign if the plan was suspended. The other side: Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he is ready to start a dialogue under the auspices of President Isaac Herzog. - “Dialogue is the right path. “We will bring a reform that will restore the balance between the different branches of government while strengthening civil liberties," Netanyahu said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday his controversial plans to weaken the judiciary will be delayed after widespread strikes and protests ...

The cabinet vote would then need to be ratified by a super majority in the parliament. Netanyahu was also condemned by his opponents and a host of former Israeli prime ministers. the vote, in order to give time for discussion,” he added. “We’ve never been closer to falling apart. But months of sustained protests over the plans drew global attention and rocked the country. Netanyahu added that he is “aware of the tensions” and is “listening to the people.”

His proposed changes provoked an outpouring of anger from nearly all parts of Israeli society.

He had previously called for an immediate halt to the plans. In the heart of Jerusalem, around the Knesset, supporters and critics held counter-protests. The prime minister denies any wrongdoing and claims he is the victim of a "witch hunt". He accused an "extremist minority" of trying to divide the nation, and criticised military reservists who had opposed the bill by saying they wouldn't report for duty. His own part in the country's upheaval was not acknowledged. From the main airport to shops and banks - even in hospitals - services were stopped.

Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: In Israel, the demonstrations, people's power taking to the streets, particularly in Tel Aviv, are unprecedented.

Very little in terms of the Palestinian issue that we've seen over the course of the past weeks, but a lot in terms of women's rights that also have taken a significant hit over the course of this new government and lots of other social issues that are significant to large numbers, particularly of young people in Israel today. Of course, the other side of the coin is that if he pulls back, is he going to maintain support? All of this has led to huge moves against the Israeli shekel, against Israeli ETFs, against the Israeli investments in the markets that we've really not seen. If Netanyahu persists and decides that he's going to go ahead with this reform, it would not only be a significant erosion for Israeli democracy, but it would also be an enormous hit for the Israeli economy. That means you're not getting a Big Mac today in Israel because all of the McDonald's are closed. This is a population of less than 10 million in Israel, and hundreds of thousands are saying that they strongly oppose the efforts by Bibi Netanyahu and his coalition government to rest control of the judiciary, allowing the parliament to overturn judicial decisions from the Supreme Court and also allowing more control of executive appointments to Supreme Court justices.

For months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets across the country to protest far-reaching changes to Israel's legal system.

Opponents say the plan threatens the foundations of Israeli democracy. The nation's largest labor union called an end to the strike after Netanyahu's announcement. [Tensions rose further this past weekend](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/26/middleeast/israel-judicial-overhaul-legislation-intl/index.html) when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over his opposition to the planned overhaul, prompting mass street protests and widespread strike action.