Israel

PM Netanyahu is expected to speak on his controversial judicial changes, reports say, after protests hit the country.

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.

Israeli politics descended into turmoil, with Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline government facing a spiralling backlash to its bitterly contested plans to ...

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Israel's largest trade union group has launched a strike across a broad swathe of sectors, joining a surging protest movement against Prime Minister ...

“The entire nation is rapt with deep worry. Mr Netanyahu’s dismissal of defence minister Yoav Gallant appeared to signal that the prime minister and his allies will barrel ahead this week with the overhaul plan and the committee moving the legislation forward was meeting as planned on Monday. Some members of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party said they would support the prime minister if he did heed calls to halt the overhaul, but the architect of it, justice minister Yariv Lavin, a popular party member, has said he would resign. Our security, economy, society – all are under threat,” he said. The sacking of his defence minister at a time of heightened security threats in the West Bank and elsewhere appeared to be a last straw for many, prompting a new surge of opposition. The growing resistance to the plan came hours after tens of thousands of people burst into the streets around the country in a spontaneous show of anger at Mr Netanyahu’s decision to sack his defence minister after he called for a pause to the overhaul.

The dramatic decision by the Israeli prime minister to sack Yoav Gallant sparks massive demonstrations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Israel has been gripped by ...

We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. The eyes of the entire Jewish people are on you. The eyes of the whole world are on you. The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. "Come to your senses now! In a statement after his sacking, Mr Gallant said: "The security of the state of Israel has always been and will always remain the mission of my life." Israel has been gripped by protests for 13 weeks due to judicial reforms that the government is determined to see through despite growing opposition. Critics say Mr Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because of his corruption trial. Deep concern surrounds the entire nation. "For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of the responsibility, I call on you to stop the legislative process immediately. Opposition leader Yair Lapid tweeted that Mr Netanyahu had become "a threat to the security of the state of Israel". Meanwhile, Mr Herzog said: "I am addressing the prime minister, the members of the government and the companies and members of the coalition: the feelings are difficult and painful.

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.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under immense pressure over controversial judicial reforms that he wants to push through; The changes to the country's ...

The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you; the eyes of all Jews are on you; the eyes of the world are on you. This is not a moment of politics, this is a moment of leadership and responsibility.” I appeal to the prime minister, the members of the government and members of the coalition: all the nation is surrounded by concerns. Only a few minutes after the call, departures from the airport were suspended. We must all strive to stabilise the government and the coalition," he says. “We must not bring about the overthrow of the right-wing government with our own hands. The prime minister’s Likud party briefed Israeli media earlier that he was likely to stop the legislative process “for a few weeks”. A parliamentary committee approved that bill for its final readings on Monday, as the coalition debated its next step. That was why he had to bring in those far-right elements of Israeli politics and keep them happy. Suspicion has been mounting that Netanyahu may halt his plans in a bid to calm the protests A source in one Israeli embassy, who didn't want to be named, confirmed the report. As we've been reporting, anti-government protests have swept the streets of Israel.

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.

Israel protests – news: Flights suspended from Tel Aviv airport as workers protest Netanyahu's reforms · Stoppage at Ben Gurion airport comes in the wake of ...

But it also runs the risk of angering his far-right coalition partners — potentially threatening the stability of his government and risking the possibility of new elections. Doctors and day care workers said they would stay off the job, and others were expected to join as well. Israel’s largest trade union is one of the most powerful institutions in the country, representing nearly 800,000 people across sectors that include health care, banking, government services, day-care and transportation. The economy already has been hit by the protests, with the shekel currency tumbling in value in recent weeks. Israel’s high-tech industry, the engine of the country’s economy, could also be affected. This includes Jenin refugee camp and all areas north of this until the Jalamah checkpoint for access to Israel While the FCDO does not explicitly advise against travel to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, current advice states it is aware of “a shooting incident in central Tel Aviv. A weaker court system could clear the way for more aggressive settlement construction and even annexation of West Bank lands. One of Israel’s key defences has been that it has an independent judiciary capable of investigating and prosecuting wrongdoing by troops. There is a risk that tourists or bystanders could be caught up in any of these types of incident.” The pause Netanyahu declared could help ease the tensions and buy him some time to find a compromise. “Israeli society is on a dangerous collision course.

A day earlier, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu fired his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant after he called the government to halt the ...

Bigger and fiercer protests break, with tens of thousands taking to the streets. The government dismisses the protests as the left refusing to accept the results of November’s election. Netanyahu says the changes are needed to curb activist judges who overreach their powers to interfere in politics. [tells Netanyahu](/news/2023/3/24/israeli-govt-shows-signs-of-split-over-pms-judiciary-plans) that his personal involvement in plans to change the country’s judiciary is illegal. [the first reading](/news/2023/3/14/controversial-judicial-law-passes-first-vote-in-israeli-knesset) of the judicial changes bill. [thousands of people](/gallery/2023/3/27/photos-mass-protests-erupt-in-israel) taking to the streets in Tel Aviv to protest Gallant’s dismissal.

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.”

Thousands of protesters took to the Israeli streets this weekend over fears their democracy is at risk.

[ Rishi Sunak ](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/rishi-sunak)did not publicly remark on the troubles within Israel right now. Meanwhile, supporters of the overhaul have also been mobilising with a counter-demonstration, prompting fears that violence could erupt between the two sides. [According to the government readout,](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-meeting-with-prime-minister-netanyahu-of-israel-24-march-2023) Sunak did emphasise “the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel”. It also noted there was “international concern at growing tensions in the West Bank” and encouraged “all efforts to de-escalate, particularly ahead of the upcoming religious holidays”. He wrote: “For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of responsibility, I call on you to stop the legislative process immediately.” She said any such “fundamental changes” to an entire democratic system should only be “pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support”, and called for Israel to find a “compromise as soon as possible”. He tweeted at the government to halt all the overhaul and protect the country’s economy, security and society. The prime minister also wants to get the legislation through by the end of the month, to supposedly balance the system of government in Israel. More than 40 Israelis and 250 Palestinians have died in the conflict – and there are worries that it could get worse without someone at the helm of the defence ministry. The defence minister warned that a deep divide was opening up in Israel over the potential reforms, and that it could undermine national security. Meanwhile, he has alleged that the reforms will stop the courts being too powerful, that the changes were voted in by the public at the last election and has promised to ensure that civil rights are protected. Tensions have been building for months, but they seemed to erupt at the weekend with many demonstrators fearing that democracy was at risk and that the Israeli judicial system was about to be overturned.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: The UK welcomes the decision today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause legislation to reform Israel's judiciary ...

The UK enjoys a deep and historic relationship with Israel. The UK welcomes the decision today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause legislation to reform Israel’s judiciary. UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has welcomed the decision to pause legislation to reform Israel’s judiciary.

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Israel in a unified show of strength in protest against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

While the FCDO does not explicitly advise against travel to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, current advice states it is aware of “a shooting incident in central Tel Aviv. This includes Jenin refugee camp and all areas north of this until the Jalamah checkpoint for access to Israel There is a risk that tourists or bystanders could be caught up in any of these types of incident.” On Sunday (26 March), however, Mr Netanyahu - within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the ‘Blue Line’) east of Metula, including the northern edge of the town and and within 500m of the border with Syria (the ‘Alpha Line’) - areas north of and including Jenin city, Burqin and Arranah in the north of the West Bank. “You should check the local news before travelling to see if there have been recent clashes, be vigilant, avoid any large gatherings or demonstrations, avoid areas which have been the site of recent violence and follow the instructions of the local authorities. [agreed to delay discussions over the plan](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-defence-minister-netanyahu-protest-latest-b2308546.html?#post-1123599) until next month. Protestors have called on the reforms to be scrapped and for the prime minister to resign. [Israel ](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/israel)in a unified show of strength in protest against prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/benjamin-netanyahu). Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across The country has seen weeks of protests in response to plans for a judicial overhaul

Israeli prime minister confirms he will delay controversial measure for several weeks after tens of thousands protested.

In exchange, a statement from his Jewish Power party said that Netanyahu had agreed on the formation of a civil “national guard”, to be placed under his control. “It is vital that the shared democratic values that underpin that (UK-Israel) relationship are upheld, and a robust system of checks and balances are preserved.” Also on Monday, the Knesset passed a state budget for 2023-2024, which does not factor in this latest development. We believe that it is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. Ben-Gvir is already in charge of Israel’s police. [Netanyahu sacked his defence minister](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/26/benjamin-netanyahu-fires-defence-minister-yoav-gallant-judicial-overhaul) for opposing the overhaul, [sparking mass protests](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/26/benjamin-netanyahu-fires-defence-minister-yoav-gallant-judicial-overhaul) across the country overnight. In office, Netanyahu’s partners have proved unpalatable to the majority of the country. But in a country where reservist military service is already commonplace, it is unclear where the personnel for a national guard will come from - not to mention the funding. We heard with concern yesterday the reports that Netanyahu told the people close to him that he isn’t really stopping, just trying to calm the situation.” It is not lost on anyone that the proposals could help Netanyahu in his corruption trial, in which he denies all charges. Many Israelis would dread that prospect: voters have been evenly split over whether Netanyahu is fit to lead the country in five polls since 2019. “We’ve got bad experience from the past and so first, we’ll make sure there’s no tricks or bluffing here.

Israel is in the "heart of a crisis", Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted, after he delayed a controversial overhaul of the judiciary.

The pause does open up a window for dialogue and possible compromise, though. Israel's main labour union called off a national stoppage shortly after his address. "I agreed to remove the veto to reject the legislation in exchange for a commitment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the legislation would be submitted to the Knesset for approval in the next session," Mr Ben-Gvir said. The idea is to "pass the reform through dialogue", the party said in a statement. "From a will to prevent the rift in the nation, I have decided to delay the second and third reading (of the bill) in order to reach a broad consensus," he said. In a TV address, Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to "prevent the rift in the nation" and "reach a broad consensus".

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.

An uneasy calm is returning to Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would delay a key part of controversial plans to overhaul the ...

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.

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.”

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.

The right-wing government's push to get more control of the judiciary system thrust Israel into a crisis. The pushback led Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ...

That would set up a potential constitutional crisis, with two branches of government refusing to agree on what the law is. They say that their way of life is in danger and that women's rights could suddenly be limited under the new government plan. Instead, the country operates according to a set of basic laws. The immediate crisis is somewhat abated by the prime minister's decision to call off Monday's vote, but it's unclear if Netanyahu can hold together his coalition. The government also wants to give itself a more direct hand in selecting the country's judges — a process that involves a judicial selection committee. Yes, and it's possible that the Supreme Court could eventually rule on them. The prime minister is on trial for three criminal cases alleging corruption. The turmoil eventually prompted Netanyahu to freeze the legislation. Currently, politicians have a minority vote on the selection committee. Netanyahu postponed the final vote of the legislation that had been slated for Monday. The push for more control widely is seen as a preemptive step toward enacting a controversial legislative agenda. Then came word that Netanyahu would put the plan on hold.

Veteran leader suspends divisive overhaul after plan for judicial reform plunges Israel into biggest crisis in decades.

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PM Benjamin Netanyahu's statement Monday hasn't appeased those opposing his perceived desire to control the judiciary.

“I think the protests will continue, maybe not at the same amount, but more on a weekly basis.” “In Israeli society, serving in the army is your application to belonging and more. It’s like the protest became more comfortable with the fact of the flag’s presence.” “At first, in the anti-Occupation bloc, there were a lot of attacks on people who held Palestinian flags. Many are viewing his motivation as fundamentally “to escape his legal conundrum and three indictments.” “It is forbidden that there will be a civil war”.