Israeli government postpones justice reform bill amid massive protests
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday postponed until next month a decision on his highly contested justice reform plan amid fears that Israel's worst national crisis in years could fracture his coalition or risk escalating into violence, Reuters reports, cited by Agerpres.
Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a right-wing radical, said he agreed to the postponement in return for a commitment to submit the bill to the next session of parliament.
Opponents of the plan to tighten parliamentary control over judicial processes have warned that it poses a threat to democracy and have mobilised widespread protests against it. Supporters of the bill, including far-right football fans, have vowed to counter the demonstrations.
Flights at Ben Gurion Airport were grounded and seaports, banks, hospitals and medical services were also to cease operations as the head of the national union Histadrut called for a general strike to halt the advance of the judicial changes.
