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☆ Israeli police arrest five following uproar over Jews spitting on Christians
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Kareem Khadder | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Jerusalem CNN —Israel Police arrested five people Wednesday on suspicion of spitting towards Christians or churches in the Old City of Jerusalem, they announced, following an uproar a day earlier over Orthodox Jews spitting at Christian pilgrims. Four of the suspects were arrested for incidents on Wednesday, and one for an incident earlier in the week, police said. One of the individuals was arrested on assault charges, and the other four were arrested on suspicion of unlawful disorderly conduct, Israel Police told CNN. One of the arrests is connected to the viral video from Monday of ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting on Christian pilgrims carrying a cross out of the Church of the Flagellation in the Old City, police said. The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the spitting was part of a wider problem that leads to physical violence.

Persons: Father Matteo, Jesus, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Doron Turgeman, ” Turgeman, Israel’s, Rabbi David Lau Organizations: Jerusalem CNN — Israel Police, Israel Police, CNN, ”, Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem Police Locations: Jerusalem, Old City, Old, Israel

[1/2] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as he attends an economic forum at Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, in Rome, Italy, March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Tesla Inc FollowSept 18 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Elon Musk to strike a balance between protecting free expression and fighting hate speech at a meeting on Monday after weeks of controversy over antisemitic content on Musk's social media platform X. "I know you're committed to that ... but I encourage and urge you to find a balance," Netanyahu said. Musk responded by saying he was against antisemitism and against anything that "promotes hate and conflict," repeating his previous statements that X would not promote hate speech. The billionaire, who also runs Tesla and SpaceX, noted that he received more pushback from Tesla employees about the meeting with Netanyahu than "anything else I've ever done."

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Remo Casilli, Elon Musk, Musk, Netanyahu, Sheila Dang, Ari Rabinovitch, Yuvraj Malik, Howard Goller Organizations: Ministry of Enterprises, REUTERS, Defamation, ADL, SpaceX, Thomson Locations: Italy, Rome, Fremont , California, Tesla's California, Israel, Dallas, Jerusalem, Bengaluru

☆ Israel’s democracy is at a crossroads as its top court debates a law limiting its power. Here’s what to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

“The Supreme Court and the government alike possess a credible nuclear threat against the other side … if both sides are rational actors, they will … disarm themselves. That leaves the Supreme Court as the only check on the executive and legislative branches of government. Striking down a Basic Law would be uncharted territory for the Supreme Court, although it has examined and commented on Basic Laws before. Thousands of military reservists and even some active duty soldiers have vowed not to serve if the judicial overhaul went into effect. Or for the Supreme Court that might say we have a right to demonstrate, the right to strike by our so to speak legal system,” Tomer said.

Persons: Jerusalem CNN —, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, –, Netanyahu, “, ”, Amit Segal, Netanyahu’s, Biden, Israel doesn’t, Esther Hayut, Aryeh Deri, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ohad, Yariv Levin, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben Gvir, ” Segal, it’s, Banks, Haim Tomer, Hassan Nasrallah, ‘, ’ ” Tomer, Joe Biden, Tomer, ” Tomer, he’s, Isaac Herzog’s, Isaac Herzog, Benjamin Netanyahu, Ronen Zvulun, Ben Gvir Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, Jerusalem CNN — Israel’s, Israel’s, Supreme, CNN, of Defense, United, National Security, United Nations General Assembly Locations: Jerusalem, Israel, United Kingdom, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia

“There are many checks on the legislative and executive branches, but there are simply no checks on the Supreme Court,” Kontorovich said, without citing examples. Video Ad Feedback Hear Netanyahu respond to judicial overhaul plans amid protests 03:17 - Source: CNNUnlike many democracies, Israel does not have a written constitution. While they are a minority in Israel, they have different reasons for backing the judicial plan. The prime minister in his Thursday interview with CNN failed to confirm whether he’d accept a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the “reasonableness” law. Following backlash from the opposition, however, Netanyahu in a statement attempted to reassure the public, saying that Israeli governments “always respect” court decisions.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Eugene Kontorovich, Kontorovich, Netanyahu, ” Kontorovich, Israel “, ”, Tommy Lamm, Ronnie Lottner, “, Naftali Bennett’s, Tamar Hermann, ” Hermann, Gideon Rahat, Bennett, Yair Lapid, Hermann, Israel Democracy Institue Organizations: CNN, White, Israel’s, West Bank, Israel Democracy Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s, Israel Democracy Locations: Israeli, Israel, “

☆ Netanyahu defends judicial reforms, air force chief warns of security threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Henriette Chacar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM, July 28 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said parliament's decision to trim Supreme Court powers to overrule government actions as part of his planned judicial overhaul would not hurt Israel's democracy. Now in its seventh month, the crisis escalated on Monday after parliament passed the first of the changes, trimming Supreme Court powers to overrule government actions and raising fears for the court's independence. While Netanyahu downplayed the consequences of his plans, air force chief, Tomer Bar, warned the crisis could be exploited by Israel's enemies. Political watchdog groups have appealed to the Supreme Court to strike the new law, paving the way to a showdown among branches of government when it hears the arguments in September. The prime minister says the changes will balance government branches.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, It's, Tomer, Michael Georgy, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: ABC News, CNN, Thomson

☆ Israel urges calm amid plans for further protest at judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The plans have hit the economy by drawing warnings from credit agencies, triggering foreign investor flight. A Palestinian group aligned with the Islamist movement Hamas said it launched a rocket from the occupied West Bank into Israel in retaliation. Israel has previously acknowledged that were preliminary efforts under way by West Bank fighters to develop a rocket arsenal. Video posted on social media showed scores of other Jews visiting the Jerusalem compound under Israeli police guard. In the latest violence, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian teenager when clashes erupted during an Israeli army raid in Palestinian city of Qalqiliya, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Tisha B'av, Isaac Herzog, Netanyahu, Shikma Bressler, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Ben, Nidal al, Dan Williams, Tom Perry, Robert Birsel, Nick Macfie Organizations: West Bank JERUSALEM, Facebook, West Bank, Police, Palestinian Health Ministry, Thomson Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, West, al, United States, Palestinian, Qalqiliya, Gaza

☆ In Israel, the Hobbling of the Supreme Court Is Just the Start - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Adam Shinar | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Existing agreements among the coalition are explicit about these goals and legislation reflecting this agenda has already been introduced. To this, we should add subtler but no less drastic changes to the civil service, once heralded as professional and nonpartisan. It is the unraveling of Israel’s basic identity, that of a Jewish and democratic state. Across Israel, there is growing alarm about the rise of religion in the public sphere and the privileging of Jewish interests inside Israel and in the occupied territories. So here goes: Since its establishment, Israel has become only more fragmented and polarized.

Persons: Itamar Ben, Ben Organizations: Netanyahu Locations: Israel

☆ Israel's Netanyahu takes heat in polls as judicial crisis deepens
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, July 26 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered a hit in the polls over a judicial law his hard-right coalition has championed as he attempts to navigate his gravest domestic crisis. Seats held by Netanyahu's Likud party would fall from 32 to 28, according to N12 News, and to as low as 25 seats in a survey by broadcaster Reshet 13. Israel's close ally the United States called the Knesset vote "unfortunate" and urged work toward a broad consensus. "There has been an increase in requests to halt reserve duty," Brigadier General Daniel Hagari told Israeli reporters in remarks confirmed by a military spokesman. Protest leaders said growing numbers of military reservists would no longer report for duty if the government pressed ahead with its plans.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's, Joe Biden’s, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, Maayan Lubell, Michael Georgy, Robert Birsel Organizations: Netanyahu's, Netanyahu's Likud, N12, Reshet, Reuters, Thomson Locations: United States, Histadrut

The threat is unprecedented in its scope, experts say, and the military has pleaded with reservists to remain in their posts. Members of Israeli security forces guard the al-Aqsa Mosque compound following clashes that erupted during Islam's holy fasting month of Ramadan in Jerusalem on April 5. Nearly 10,000 military reservists said before the passage of the controversial “reasonableness” bill on Monday that they would refuse to volunteer for duty if it was passed. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant and reiterated the US’ commitment to Israel’s security. “He (Netanyahu) is willing to pay any price to move forward with this.”Golov sees reservists threatening not to serve as a sign of something much bigger.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, ”, Ahmad Gharabli, General Staff Herzi Halevi, Defense Lloyd Austin, Yoav Gallant, Chuck Freilich, Freilich, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yiftach, ” Golov, Golov, Israel, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Mahmoud Illean, Netanyahu, ” Freilich, Nasrallah, “ Organizations: CNN, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Getty, General Staff, Defense, The Institute for National Security Studies, Brothers, Israeli Air Force, West Bank, Palestinian, ” Reuters, Arms Locations: Israel, Jerusalem, AFP, Tel Aviv, Lebanon, Syria, East Jerusalem, Gaza, “, Iran

☆ Civil unrest, legal appeals and military disobedience: What Israel may face after Supreme Court law change
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Striking down a Basic Law would be uncharted territory for the Supreme Court, although the court has examined and commented on Basic Laws before. Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty Images People in Tel Aviv, Israel, demonstrate against the judicial overhaul plan on Saturday, July 22. Saeed Qaq/NurPhoto via Getty Images Protesters from Tel Aviv walk the entrance road to Jerusalem after a four-day march on July 22. Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters Protesters block the main entrance to the Ministry of Defense during a protest in Tel Aviv on July 18. Israeli military reservist signs pledge to suspend voluntary military service if the government passes judicial overhaul legislation, near the defence ministry in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 19.

Persons: CNN —, Israel doesn’t, Benjamin Netanyahu, Esther Hayut, ”, ” Hayut, Barak Medina, ” Medina, ” Yohanan Plesner, Ron Dermer, “, Plesner, Netanyahu, Monday, Amir Cohen, Corinna Kern, Oded, Jack Guez, Hazem Bader, Ammar Awad, Aryeh Deri, Shas, Ronaldo Schemidt, Ohad, Mahmoud Illean, Ronen Zvulun, Dar Yaskil, Saeed Qaq, Matan Golan, Eyal Warshavsky, Menahem Kahana, Ilan Rosenberg, Amir Levy, Medina, ” Plesner, Israel, Biden, Karine Jean, Pierre, ” Dermer, Biden hadn’t, Martin Indyk, Dan Kurtzer, Indyk, Israel hasn’t Organizations: CNN, Law, Supreme, Nation State Law, Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s, of Law, Israel Democracy Institute, Strategic, Israel Medical Association, IMA, High Tech, ”, Reuters, Getty, AP, Protesters, Getty Images, Reuters Protesters, AP People, Ministry of Defense, Air, House Press, New York Times, State Department Locations: Israel’s, United States, Israel, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israeli, AFP, Reuters Israeli

☆ Morgan Stanley cuts Israel sovereign credit to "dislike stance" after judiciary changes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"Markets are now likely to extrapolate the future policy path and we move Israel sovereign credit to a 'dislike stance'." They added that recent developments pointed to "continued uncertainty" in Israel and for the shekel currency to weaken and borrowing costs to rise as investors attach a higher risk premium. "In our adverse scenario we think that growth could weaken significantly to 1.6% (year-on-year) in 2024 with inflation remaining significantly above the Bank of Israel's tolerance band." "For now, we keep our call for one more 25 basis point hike to 5% at the BoI's September meeting, but risks to the rates outlook are now shifting to the upside again." Reporting by Marc Jones and Steve Sheer in Jerusalem, additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Amanda CooperOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Benjamin Netanyahu, Morgan, Marc Jones, Steve Sheer, Ari Rabinovitch, Amanda Cooper Organizations: Bank of, Thomson Locations: Israel, Jerusalem

☆ Powerful right-wing radicals are testing democratic checks and balance in both Israel and the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —White House criticism of Israel after its right-wing coalition embarked on a plan to target judicial power is bringing a new kind of turbulence to one of America’s oldest friendships. It shows that Israel, like the United States, is experiencing an era of right-wing politicians seeking to aggressively flex power and test enshrined democratic constraints. The drama is likely to further worsen the long-standing but increasingly brittle relationship between President Joe Biden and Netanyahu. Yet there is deep concern in the White House about the implications of any successful attempt to subvert checks and balances in Israel. And Netanyahu appeared to align himself politically with Trump while he was in the White House.

Persons: CNN —, Israel, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Donald Trump, Biden’s, ”, shockwaves, Jordan, –, Martin Indyk, “, ” Indyk, Lynda Kinkade, hasn’t, Thomas Friedman, ” Biden’s, Karine Jean, Pierre, Isaac Herzog, ” Aaron David Miller, Isa Soares, don’t, Mitch McConnell, “ Mr, Obama, Trump, Mike Pence, Hugh Hewitt, Ron DeSantis, “ Biden, Pramila Jayapal, didn’t Organizations: CNN, –, White House, Trump, Republicans, Democratic, House, West Bank, Biden, CNN International, “, New York Times, Republican, Israel, -, Republican Party, Netanyahu’s Likud Party, Florida Gov, Congressional, Democrat Locations: Iran, Israel, United States, Washington, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Florida

☆ Israel judicial overhaul: protests mount against Benjamin Netanyahu after bill passed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The bill curbing Supreme Court review of some government decisions passed in a stormy Knesset parliament on Monday after a walkout by lawmakers. Protest leaders said growing numbers of military reservists would no longer report for duty if the government continued with its plans. First elected to top office in 1996 and now in his sixth term, Netanyahu, 73, is facing his biggest domestic crisis. A Lebanese source familiar with the development said the men were members of a Hezbollah elite unit on a patrol that had nothing to do with Israel's domestic crisis. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Monday said Israel's domestic crisis showed it was on a "path of collapse and fragmentation".

Persons: Netanyahu, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yair Lapid, Zion Hagay, Kan, Corinna Kern, striding, Hassan Nasrallah, Bezalel Smotrich, Dan Williams, Ari Rabinovitch, Henriette Chacar, Andrew MacAskill, Laila Bassam, Tom Perry, Andrew Cawthorne, Nick Macfie Organizations: Israeli Democracy, Israel Bar Association, Israel Medical Association, Health Ministry, REUTERS, BANK, Orthodox Jewish, West Bank, Hamas, Hezbollah, Finance, Army Radio, Thomson Locations: JERUSALEM, Israel, Histadrut, United States, Britain, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington, Nablus, Palestinian, Lebanese, Iran, London, Beirut

☆ Lebanon's Hezbollah sees Israel on path of 'collapse'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIRUT, July 24 (Reuters) - The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah said on Monday its arch-foe Israel was on a "path of collapse and fragmentation," referring to divisions in Israeli society over a contested overhaul of its judiciary. "Today, in particular, is the worst day in the history of the entity, as some of its people say," Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech, referring to Israel. "This is what puts it on the path of collapse, fragmentation, and disappearance, God willing," he added. Shi'ite Hezbollah has fought numerous conflicts with Israel since being established by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982. Reporting by Laila Bassam in Beirut Writing by Tom Perry Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Netanyahu, Laila Bassam, Tom Perry, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Monday, Iran's, Guards, Thomson Locations: BEIRUT, Iran, Lebanese, Israel, Beirut

Long before moving into the White House, President Biden compared the relationship between the United States and Israel to that of close friends. For months, Mr. Biden refused to invite Mr. Netanyahu to Washington, which prevented at least some meetings between lower-level officials. Despite recognizing Israel, Mr. Truman refused to sell the new state offensive arms, as did his two successors. Mr. Biden urged Mr. Netanyahu “not to rush” his changes and “to seek the broadest possible consensus here.”Aides insist Mr. Biden is not trying to engineer a specific outcome in an ally’s internal politics. “I don’t think the Jewish American community needs to be overly involved in this,” she said.

Persons: Long, Biden, “, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Netanyahu, Nathan J, Diament, Isaac Herzog, Robert B, Harry S, Truman, —, Israel —, Israel, Dwight D, Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, George H.W, Bush, State James A, Baker, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald J, Trump, Mr, “ Bibi, Biden’s, Netanyahu’s, Kamala Harris, ” —, Eli Cohen, Yair Lapid, Netanyahu “, Satloff, Thomas L, Friedman, . Biden, Jake Sullivan, “ It’s, ” Mr, Sullivan, Chris Coons, James E, Diana Fersko, Rabbi Fersko Organizations: Israel, Orthodox Union, American Orthodox, Democratic, Washington Institute for Near East, State, State Department, Mr, New York Times, Aspen Security, Republican, Foreign Relations, Jewish, American Jewish, American Locations: United States, Israel, Washington, American, U.S, Egypt, Suez, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Manhattan

☆ Israeli parliament approves key part of Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul as opposition exits chamber
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Demonstrators gather with national flags outside the Israeli parliament (Knesset) in Jerusalem on July 23, 2023. JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli lawmakers on Monday approved a key portion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive plan to reshape the country's justice system despite massive protests that have exposed unprecedented fissures in Israeli society. The vote came after a stormy session in which opposition lawmakers chanted "shame" and then stormed out of the chamber. In Monday's vote, lawmakers approved a measure that prevents judges from striking down government decisions on the basis that they are "unreasonable." Ahead of Monday's vote, opposition leader Yair Lapid had declared: "We are headed for disaster."

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Netanyahu —, —, Yariv Levin, Netanyahu's, Yair Lapid Organizations: Movement for Quality Government Locations: Jerusalem, JERUSALEM, United States

☆ Israel passes law to strip Supreme Court of power to block government decisions, defying months of protests
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Ivana Kottasová Richard Allen Greene Hadas Gold Amir Tal | Ivana Kottasová | Richard Allen Greene | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The so-called reasonableness law takes away the Supreme Court’s power to block government decisions by declaring them unreasonable. Saeed Qaq/NurPhoto via Getty Images Protesters from Tel Aviv walk the entrance road to Jerusalem after a four-day march on July 22. Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters Protesters block the main entrance to the Ministry of Defense during a protest in Tel Aviv on July 18. Israel, which has no written constitution and no upper chamber of the parliament, has had a relatively powerful Supreme Court, which supporters of the changes argue is problematic. He has argued that the Supreme Court has become an insular, elitist group that does not represent the Israeli people.

Persons: –, Yair Lapid, Ohad, Ammar Awad, Benjamin Netanyahu, Aryeh Deri, Shas, Ronaldo Schemidt, Mahmoud Illean, Netanyahu, Ronen Zvulun, Hazem Bader, Dar Yaskil, Saeed Qaq, Matan Golan, Menahem Kahana, Ilan Rosenberg, Amir Levy, Jack Guez, Joe Biden, “, Israel, ” Biden, Biden, Thomas Friedman, ”, Maya Alleruzzo, Isaac Herzog Organizations: CNN, Israel Police, Air Force, Israeli, Quality Government, Supreme, AP, Reuters, Getty Images, Protesters, Reuters Protesters, Getty, Ministry of Defense, New York Times, TA, West Bank, Israel Bar Association, Association Locations: Israeli, Jerusalem, Reuters Israeli, AFP, Tel Aviv, Israel, United States

☆ Benjamin Netanyahu, a hawk in the eye of the storm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/4] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits between Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant as lawmakers gather at the Knesset plenum to vote on a bill that would limit some Supreme Court power, in Jerusalem July 24, 2023. POLARIZINGPerhaps the most polarizing of Israel's leaders, but a supreme pragmatist, Netanyahu had always been seen as a recognizable conservative - pro-business and tough on security. A stocky, imposing figure, his poise and flawless American English have underlined his outsized role on the world stage. That meant closing ranks with religious and ultra-nationalist parties untroubled about upsetting Israel's allies with their openly expansionist agenda. A lifelong security hardliner and a scourge of liberal opinion, Netanyahu described himself in his autobiography - "Bibi My Story" - as "conservative but decidedly not extreme".

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Yoav Gallant, Amir Cohen JERUSALEM, Netanyahu, Herzi Halevi, pragmatist, Israel's, Bibi, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Joe Biden, James Mackenzie, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Special Forces, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel

Israelis marching toward Jerusalem on Saturday in protest of plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to overhaul the judicial system. Adding to the uncertainty Sunday, Mr. Netanyahu was taken to the hospital to have a pacemaker implanted during a procedure in which he would be placed under sedation, his office said. “The proper balance between the authorities has been disturbed over the past decades,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a speech Thursday. “The fear is that our country won’t look like it looks today,” Ms. Holzman said of the judicial overhaul plan. Similar mass protests in March prompted the government to suspend, at least for now, other planned judicial changes.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Ilana Holzman, “, Holzman, Menahem Kahana, Benjamin Netanyahu, Shin, Netanyahu, ” Mr, Gil Cohen, Navot Silberstein, Silberstein, Ms Organizations: Agence France, Histadrut, Air Force Locations: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, Shoresh .

☆ Israel's Netanyahu taken to hospital for a heart procedure and placed under sedation as hundreds of thousands march in protest of his plans to overhaul the judiciary
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday he was going to the hospital for an emergency procedure to receive a pacemaker, but vowed to press ahead with his controversial judicial overhaul plan. Netanyahu's office made the announcement as Israel faces widespread street protests over Netanyahu's contentious judicial overhaul plan. Levin is the mastermind of the overhaul plan. The signatories included Ehud Barak, a former Israeli prime minister, and Moshe Yaalon, a former army chief and defense minister. In a speech Thursday, Netanyahu doubled down on the overhaul and dismissed as absurd the accusations that the plan would destroy Israel's democratic foundations.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, Levin, throngs, Monday's, Joe Biden, Ehud Barak, Moshe Yaalon, Israel Katz, Yoav Gallant Organizations: Israeli, National Institutes of Health, Likud, Channel, West Bank Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Jerusalem, Israel's, Beersheba, Haifa, Netanya

'WE'RE SCARED, WE'RE ANGRY'Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs a cabinet meeting at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, Monday, July 17, 2023. Tens of thousands of Israelis opposing the judicial changes marched to Jerusalem over the weekend, carrying flags and beating drums under a scorching summer sun. Washington has urged Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, to seek broad agreements over any judicial reforms. First elected to Israel's top office in 1996, Netanyahu has been both dynamic and polarising. In early October, a few weeks before winning a national election, Netanyahu fell ill during the Jewish fast of Yom Kippur and was briefly hospitalised.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Netanyahu, Cyrus, Ohad, We're, we're, Tzivia Guggenheim, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovitch, Amir Cohen, Dedi Hayoun, Rami Amichay, Ilan Rosenberg, Paul Simao, Richard Chang, Jan Harvey Organizations: Israel's, Sheba Medical, Sunday, U.S, Thomson Locations: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Turkey, Israeli, Old City, Washington, Israel, Yom Kippur

Scores of people set off on a 40-mile trek on foot from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On Tuesday, President Biden held a meeting with Mr. Herzog, who serves as Israel’s mostly ceremonial president, at the White House. Several lawmakers critical of Israel said they would boycott Mr. Herzog’s speech to Congress to protest the Israeli government’s policies. Some members of the Israeli military reserves have campaigned against the law, and labor unions have threatened general strikes. Scores of protesters were also marching from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, carrying blue-and-white Israeli flags and chanting “De-mo-cra-tya!” — Hebrew for democracy.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Biden, Herzog, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu’s, ”, “ Organizations: Doctors, U.S, White, Mr, ”, United States Embassy Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, United States

CNN —Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to deliver an address to a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday, in what is expected to mark a bipartisan show of support for a top strategic ally in the Middle East. There is widespread support for Israel on both sides of the aisle in Congress, but some House Democrats have said they’ll skip the address, citing concerns about human rights. Jayapal, a Washington state Democrat, said “Israel is a racist state” on Saturday while addressing pro-Palestine protesters who interrupted a panel discussion at the Netroots Nation conference in Chicago. “In May, I became the second Speaker of the US House of Representatives in history to address the Israeli Knesset, and now, it is my privilege to host Israeli President Isaac Herzog for a similar honor. The only other President of Israel to share this distinction is his father – President Chaim Herzog – more than 35 years ago,” McCarthy said in a statement at the time.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Herzog “, Pramila Jayapal, ” Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar, Ted Lieu, “ Israel, who’s, ” Jayapal, “, Joe Biden, Herzog, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Chaim Herzog –, ” McCarthy Organizations: CNN, Israel, Democrats, West Bank, Democratic, ”, Democratic Rep, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Top, Palestine, Netroots, White Locations: California, New York, Israel, Washington, Chicago, Palestine, America

☆ Protesters block Israel highways over new Supreme Court bill
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Corinna KernJERUSALEM, July 11 (Reuters) - Israeli protesters blocked major highways on Tuesday after a bill that would curb some of the Supreme Court's power won initial approval by parliament, with full support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right ruling coalition. Footage showed crowds of flag-waving Israelis stopping morning traffic in major intersections and on highways in central Israel, business hub Tel Aviv and near the entrance to Jerusalem. Police, who said 24 people have been arrested, used a water cannon to disperse some protesters and dragged others away by force. If passed as is, it would curb Supreme Court's power to void decisions made by the government, ministers and elected officials by ruling them unreasonable. Proponents say the change will facilitate effective governance by curbing court intervention, arguing that judges have other legal means to exercise oversight.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Corinna Kern JERUSALEM, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Ben, Netanyahu, Washington, Maayan Lubell, Dan Willliams, Steven Scheer, Louise Heavens Organizations: Israeli, REUTERS, Police, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Jerusalem

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