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☆ Protesters close Israeli seaport, eye airport as judicial crisis simmers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HAIFA, Israel July 3 (Reuters) - Demonstrators briefly shut off access to a major Israeli seaport on Monday ahead of a planned mass convergence on the country's main airport, as a half-year-long crisis over the government's judicial overhaul again builds up steam. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had doused some of the protests during compromise talks with the opposition but they proved fruitless. People take part in a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel July 1, 2023. REUTERS/Nir Elias/File PhotoProtest leaders called for a similar shut-down of Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main international gateway, in the afternoon. Washington has urged Netanyahu to seek broad consensus rather than rapidly push through unilateral changes it said could undermine Israeli democracy.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Nir Elias, Ben Gurion, Netanyahu, Dan Williams, Gareth Jones Organizations: Israeli, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: HAIFA, Israel, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion, Washington

☆ Israel reboots fiercely opposed judicial campaign
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] An aerial view shows protesters holding banners as they demonstrate against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 24, 2023. REUTERS/Oren AlonJERUSALEM, June 25 (Reuters) - Israeli lawmakers on Sunday began debating a bill that would limit the Supreme Court's powers, rebooting a fiercely opposed judicial overhaul instigated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition. Anti-government demonstrations had prompted Netanyahu to suspend his judicial drive in March to allow compromise talks with opposition parties. The proposed judicial overhaul has also stirred Western concern over Israel's democratic health and spooked investors. Reporting by Maayan Lubell Additional reporting by Dan Williams Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Oren Alon JERUSALEM, rebooting, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Gilad Kariv, Yair Lapid, Maayan Lubell, Dan Williams, David Goodman Organizations: Israeli, REUTERS, Sunday, Coalition, Twitter, reining, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel

☆ Tens of thousands join protests against Israeli judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-06 | by ( Rami Amichai | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Crowds gathered in central Tel Aviv on Saturday in a show of defiance against plans which they see as an existential threat to Israeli democracy. Israel's Channel 12 estimated 110,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv alone, with other demonstrations held in cities across the country. "I'm very worried for my country," protester Bental Shamir, a 60-year old teacher told Reuters in Tel Aviv. "I'm sure that we are closer than we can imagine," lawyer Dor Lasker, 35, told Reuters regarding the compromise talks. Protesters waved the blue and white Israeli flags that have become a hallmark of the protests over the past three months.

☆ Israelis protest planned judicial overhaul ahead of 75th independence day
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TEL AVIV, April 22 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Israelis joined protests on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court, ahead of Israel's independence day marking 75 years since establishment of the Jewish state. The plans were paused last month in the face of a wave of strikes and mass demonstrations. The latest protests against them come as Israelis are set to mark both Israeli independence day and Israeli memorial day, which commemorates those killed in Israel's wars and in terror attacks. Additionally, 60% of Israelis said the government does not represent them and 48% believe the situation in the country will continue to get worse. They were waving the blue and white Israeli flags that have become a hallmark of the protests over the past three months.

☆ Israeli government says economy strong after Moody's rating outlook cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

JERUSALEM, April 15 (Reuters) - Israel's government said on Saturday the economy was strong and that concerns raised by credit ratings agency Moody's were only "natural for those unfamiliar with the strength of Israeli society". Moody's on Friday lowered its outlook on Israel to stable from positive, citing deterioration of governance due to events stemming from the government's proposed overhaul of the judiciary. It affirmed Israel's sovereign credit rating at "A1". "There will be no harm to Israeli democracy and the Israeli economy," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a joint statement. Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch; editing by Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Thousands join Israeli judicial protests in shadow of attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-08 | by ( Rami Amichay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] People wearing red, stand in a line during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government's judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ilan RosenbergTEL AVIV, April 8 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Israelis joined protests on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court, despite heightened security worries after two deadly attacks a day earlier. In central Tel Aviv, crowds waving the blue and white Israeli flags that have become a hallmark of the protests over the past three months gathered in a show of defiance against plans they see as an existential threat to Israeli democracy. "We're still going to come here and say loud and clear that we will not let this reform pass." Before the protests, police had urged people to leave roads clear to allow emergency services to move freely following Friday's car-ramming on a popular shoreline promenade in Tel Aviv.

☆ What’s Happening in Israel? Protests and Strikes Over Netanyahu’s Judicial Overhaul Explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( Aaron Boxerman In Jerusalem | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets across the country over the past three months to demonstrate against a judicial overhaul planned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s government. The ruling coalition says the proposals are necessary to rein in activist judges, while critics counter the changes would deal a fatal blow to Israeli democracy. The proposals have divided the country, sparked concern from key allies such as the U.S., and caused scores of military reservists to say they will refuse to serve should the laws pass. Analysts warn the country could be headed for a constitutional crisis.

☆ Netanyahu suspends judicial overhaul after day of Israeli turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-27 | by ( James Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a meeting at the Knesset, Israel's parliament, amid demonstrations after he dismissed the defence minister as his nationalist coalition government presses on with its judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem, March 27, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen ZvulunJERUSALEM, March 28 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paused his signature plan to overhaul Israel's judiciary after a day of nationwide turmoil when workers joined a general strike against the proposal and hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets. His dismissal by Netanyahu led thousands to take to the streets and Israel's President Isaac Herzog to urge a halt. An early rally in Israel's shekel currency fizzled out after Netanyahu suspended the overhaul with its eventual fate uncertain. While opposition parties gave a cautious welcome to Netanyahu's decision to suspend the overhaul to allow time to reach an agreement, many protesters remained mistrustful.

Some Arabs said they hoped the crisis would lead to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political demise. Others expressed hope of more far-reaching consequences for Israel, which fought numerous wars with Arab adversaries after its establishment in 1948 and occupies land the Palestinians seek for a state. The sentiment was echoed by Mohammad Abdullatif in Syria, from which Israel captured the Golan Heights in a 1967 war. Gaza political analyst Talal Okal said the crisis had brought a sense of relief among Palestinians. "But there is also a fear, they may carry out military adventures or wars to escape the internal crisis."

☆ Israel's Netanyahu met by protests on London visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Muvija M | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Demonstrators protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Britain, in London, Britain March 24, 2023. Netanyahu shook hands with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the steps of Downing Street while nearby protesters held up Israeli flags and shouted "Netanyahu go to jail, you can't speak for Israel". "We're here to protest against Netanyahu, to protest against his attacks on democracy," said Amnon Cohn, who described himself as an Israeli living in London since 2005. Outside Downing Street protesters, surrounded by British police and restricted by metal barricades, waved signs saying "You can't enjoy a weekend in London when you're bringing down a democracy!". "We are more determined than Bibi is," said Liron Rosiner Reshef, an Israeli-born protester in London using a popular nickname for Netanyahu.

[1/4] Demonstrators protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Britain, in London, Britain March 24, 2023. Netanyahu invited Sunak for an official visit to Israel, the Israeli statement said. 'WE'RE HERE TO PROTEST'In London protesters wanted to talk about Netanyahu's move on the judiciary, which has caused fear at home and abroad for the country's democratic checks and balances. "We're here to protest against Netanyahu, to protest against his attacks on democracy," said Amnon Cohn, who described himself as an Israeli living in London since 2005. "We are more determined than Bibi is," said Liron Rosiner Reshef, an Israeli-born protester in London, using a popular nickname for Netanyahu.

☆ Some Israeli army reservists rule out call-up if judiciary weakened
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"I've told the army that if the judicial reform passes (in parliament) I won't continue to come," Colonel N told Reuters, asking not to be further identified. Most Israelis are conscripted into the military for 2-3 years, and some continue as reservists into middle age. While reservists have helped Israel prevail in a string of wars, the army has relied recently on standing forces. 'HUGE DAMAGE'Experts warn the Israeli military could be weakened by reservists rejecting call-ups. "This definitely inflicts huge damage on the capability and capacity of the Israeli forces," Israel Ziv, a former head of army operations, told Reuters.

☆ Israel's 'Handmaids' become a defining image of the mass protests against Netanyahu's judicial reforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-19 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Women dressed as "Handmaids" are at the forefront of mass protests against the Netanyahu government. Netanyahu's plans to lessen the power of the Israeli supreme court. The protests in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu's plans to lessen the power of the Israeli Supreme Court in favor of elected officials. Israeli protesters wearing costumes from ''The Handmaid's Tale'' particiapte in a rally against Israeli Goverment's judicial overhaul bills at Haogen Junctions on March 16, 2023. Gili Yaari/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesPeople around the world are also voicing concerns about Netanyahu's plans.

Speaking alongside Netanyahu after talks in Berlin, Scholz said he hoped that a compromise on the reforms suggested by Israel's President Isaac Herzog was not off the table. Netanyahu visited Germany while protests erupted once again in Israel over the reforms by his far-right government that have triggered mass unrest in recent weeks. Netanyahu called criticism of the plans "absurd", assuring Scholz that "Israel will remain a liberal democracy". Netanyahu wanted the meeting with Scholz to focus on efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges that he denies, says the judicial changes will strengthen democracy and boost business.

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 1 (Reuters) - Israeli police fired stun grenades and scuffles broke out in Tel Aviv on Wednesday during a nationwide "day of disruption", raising the intensity of weeks of protests against a contentious government plan to shake up the judiciary. In images not seen in Tel Aviv demonstrations in years, police on horseback tried to stop demonstrators breaching barricades as traffic piled up. [1/6] Israelis demonstrate as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's nationalist coalition government presses on with its contentious judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, March 1, 2023. Ambassador Tom Nides said at Tel Aviv University's conference of the Institute for National Security Studies on Tuesday. Reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Rami Amichay and Amir Cohen in Tel Aviv; Editing by Sharon Singleton, Nick Macfie and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Israeli parliament in uproar over Netanyahu plans for judiciary
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Israeli lawmakers engaged in a shouting match on Monday in a parliamentary committee deciding on government plans to overhaul the judiciary, a move President Isaac Herzog has warned risks tipping the country into "constitutional collapse". The plans, which would give rightist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greater control of appointments to the bench and weaken the Supreme Court's ability to strike down legislation or rule against the executive, have triggered widespread protests. Morning trains from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem were packed with people, many carrying Israeli flags and protest signs, heading to the demonstration. U.S. President Joe Biden has urged Netanyahu to build consensus before pushing through far-reaching changes, saying in comments published by the New York Times on Sunday that an independent judiciary was one of the foundations of U.S. and Israeli democracy. Additional reporting by Hannah Confino; Writing by James Mackenzie, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden urges consensus in Israel on judiciary plans as protest mounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, Feb 12 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden has called for wide agreement to be reached in Israel on sweeping changes to the judiciary pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government which have sparked nationwide protests. Israel's parliament may on Monday begin the legislation process of the judicial overhaul, which would increase the government's sway in selecting judges while weakening Supreme Court power to strike down laws or rule against the executive. Building consensus for fundamental changes is really important to ensure that the people buy into them so they can be sustained." He was referring to a Supreme Court ruling on Friday instructing Netanyahu and his government to submit a response to a petition demanding the premier be declared incapacitated over his legal situation. Many legal experts, economists and former security and economic officials, who include Netanyahu confidants and appointments, have come out against the government's judicial plans.

☆ Tens of thousands take to streets of Israel opposing proposed judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new right-wing coalition and its proposed judicial reforms to reduce powers of the Supreme Court, in Tel Aviv, Israel February 11, 2023. REUTERS/Ilan RosenbergJERUSALEM, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Saturday for a fifth week of protests against judicial overhaul plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government which critics say threaten democratic checks on ministers by the courts. "We are ...very proud of our democracy and he wants to make Israel something else. We will not agree, we will do everything in our power to stop it," Hadar Weis, 61, told Reuters at the protest in Tel Aviv. Israel's N12 news released a poll on Saturday revealing that 62% of Israelis want the proposed judicial plans to be either paused or halted all together.

☆ Tens of thousands of Israelis protest against justice reform plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new right-wing coalition and its proposed judicial reforms to reduce powers of the Supreme Court in Tel Aviv, Israel February 4, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen ZvulunJERUSALEM, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Israelis braved heavy rain on Saturday for a fifth week of protests against judicial reform plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government that critics say threaten democratic checks on ministers by the courts. "I'm here tonight protesting against the transition of Israel from a democracy to an autocracy," Dov Levenglick, 48, a software engineer told Reuters in Tel Aviv. Opposition leader Yair Lapid joined demonstrations in the coastal city of Haifa, where he said protesters "came to save their country, and we came to protest with them." Reporting by Emily Rose Editing by Mark PotterOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

TEL AVIV, Israel — Israel will increase security and “strengthen the settlements” in response to gun attacks in Jerusalem Friday and Saturday that killed seven Israelis and badly wounded five others, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday. On Saturday, two people were allegedly injured in a separate gun attack in east Jerusalem by a Palestinian shooter in his early teens. In response, Palestinian militants in the Gaza strip fired rockets into Israel, which in turn triggered retaliatory Israeli airstrikes. The attacks present a challenge for the recently re-elected Netanyahu, who on Sunday visited those injured in Friday's attack at two hospitals in Jerusalem. At protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Saturday night, demonstrators held a moment of silence for the Jerusalem shooting victims.

☆ Tens of thousands of Israelis protest against Netanyahu justice plans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Emily Rose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new right-wing coalition and its proposed judicial reforms to reduce powers of the Supreme Court, in Tel Aviv, Israel January 21, 2023. REUTERS/Ilan RosenbergTEL AVIV, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Israelis joined demonstrations on Saturday against judicial reform plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government that protesters say will threaten democratic checks and balances on ministers by the courts. "We are fighting for democracy," said Amnon Miller, 64, among crowds of protesters, many bearing white and blue Israeli flags. Likud has long accused the Supreme Court of being dominated by left-wing judges who it says encroach on areas outside their authority for political reasons. A survey released by the Israel Democracy Institute last week showed trust in the Supreme Court was markedly higher among left-wing Israelis than among those on the right, but that there was no overall support for weakening the court's powers.

☆ Israel Supreme Court tells Netanyahu he must fire minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Interior and Health Minister Aryeh Deri gestures as he sits next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun/PoolJERUSALEM, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Israel's Supreme Court ordered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to remove a senior minister over a past tax fraud conviction, in a setback for the new right-wing coalition government. The 10-to-one ruling on Shas party leader Aryeh Deri looks likely to further stoke tensions between the Cabinet and Israel's Supreme Court over government reform plans which aim to rein in the top court. "Most of the judges have determined that this appointment is extremely unreasonable and thus the prime minister must remove Deri from office," said a court summary of the ruling. Political watchdogs had appealed to the Supreme Court to order Netanyahu to strike down Deri's appointment given his recent conviction as well as past offences.

☆ Israel's Ben-Gvir booed as he disavows far-right rabbi
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Israeli TV aired his eulogy for Kahane, who was shot by an Egyptian-American militant in Manhattan 32 years ago this week. Ben-Gvir also supports Jewish prayer on a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site that houses al-Aqsa mosque and which is a vestige of ancient Jewish temples. "We'll see who gets to be in these positions and what positions they take vis-a-vis their positions," U.S. Ambassador Tom Nides told Israel's Kan radio when asked about Ben-Gvir during a Wednesday interview broadcast on Thursday. Reporting by Dan Williams; Additional reporting by Henriette Chacar; Editing by Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Analysis: As Netanyahu returns, concerns grow over far-right ally
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( James Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/5] Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by wife Sara Netanyahu, addresses his supporters at his party headquarters during Israel's general election in Jerusalem, November 2, 2022. "This party is a huge success, no religious party in Israel has ever achieved such a number," he said. With the conflict with the Palestinians surging anew and touching off Jewish-Arab tensions within Israel, Ben-Gvir on Thursday tweeted: "The time has come to impose order here. Contrary to his hawkish image, Netanyahu has often taken a more flexible and pragmatic approach than some of his predecessors. "Netanyahu now has a personal interest in limiting the power of law authorities and the Supreme Court because of his trial," Shapira said.

☆ Netanyahu again in center stage as Israel heads towards elections
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-22 | by ( Tovah Lazaroff | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Now that government has collapsed, opening the door for Netanyahu to sweep back into power on a nationalistic right-wing slate. Even before the Knesset took its first preliminary vote Wednesday to disperse, Netanyahu, also known as “Bibi,” couldn’t stop beaming. A long-running corruption case will hang over Netanyahu during any upcoming elections as it has during the past four votes. Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister Yair Lapid will become interim prime minister. He is due to become interim prime minister.

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