Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday that he would delay the controversial plans to overhaul the country's judiciary system, following massive protests and strikes that brought Israel to a standstill. The second and third votes on the remaining legislation will now be postponed until after the Knesset's Passover recess in April, allowing time for a comprehensive debate.
Netanyahu stated that he is "aware of the tensions" and is "listening to the people." Despite the delay, he maintained that the overhaul is necessary and criticized those who refused to serve or train in the military in protest of the proposed changes, arguing that such refusal could lead to the end of the country.
In response to the announcement, Arnon Bar-David, the leader of the Histadrut labor union, declared that the planned general strike would be canceled. However, he warned Netanyahu against reintroducing the legislation, stating that "legislation without consent will be met with a general strike."
The initial proposals represented the most extensive reform of the Israeli legal system since the nation's inception. Among the most notable changes were allowing a simple majority in the Knesset to overturn Supreme Court rulings, altering the process of selecting judges, and removing independent legal advisers from government ministries.
The proposed reforms sparked months of widespread protests that gained international attention. The political crisis intensified on Sunday when Netanyahu's office announced the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after he became the first cabinet member to call for a pause in the controversial plans.
The delay in the judicial overhaul comes after the Israeli government passed a law that makes it more difficult to remove prime ministers from office. This move was criticized as an attempt by Netanyahu to preserve his position. Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery, denies any wrongdoing.
