Fitted with pacemaker, Netanyahu to attend key vote as crisis spirals
JerusalemReuters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “doing excellently” after an unscheduled pacemaker implant and would on Monday attend a key judicial reform vote that has brought nationwide protests to a boil and stirred calls for compromise. With the country ensnared in its worst domestic crisis in decades, President Isaac Herzog on Sunday […]
Israel’s Knesset gives initial nod to contested Supreme Court bill
JerusalemReuters Israel’s parliament gave preliminary approval to a bill that limits some Supreme Court power, part of a rebooted judicial overhaul by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that has set off a deep political crisis. The drive to change the justice system by Netanyahu’s ruling coalition of nationalist and religious parties has sparked unprecedented protests, stirred […]
Netanyahu bristles at protests as Israel’s judicial reform edges ahead
JerusalemReuters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday summoned his attorney-general to explain the police’s handling of resurgent demonstrations against his plan to overhaul the justice system, as the reform bill edges ahead. The bill that would limit “reasonableness” as a standard of judicial review – and which critics argue would open the door for […]
Tens of thousands join protests against Israeli judicial overhaul
Tel Aviv, IsraelReuters Tens of thousands of Israelis joined protests across the country on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bitterly disputed plans to tighten controls on the Supreme Court. The planned overhaul, which would give the government control over naming judges to the Supreme Court and let parliament override many rulings, was paused after […]
Israeli President urges nation to unite on Holocaust memorial day
JerusalemReuters President Isaac Herzog called for unity during Israel’s annual Holocaust commemorations on Monday as the nation remains deeply divided over plans by the far-right government to implement a judicial overhaul. The President’s office has been engaged in talks between Israeli opposition members to broker a compromise with the governing coalition over planned judicial changes […]
Netanyahu suspends judicial overhaul after day of Israeli turmoil
Updated: 9:15am (AEST)JerusalemReuters 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. The plans by his nationalist religious coalition to hand control over judicial appointments to the […]
Mass protests against Israeli judicial overhaul enter 10th week
Tel Aviv, Israel Reuters Israelis packed city streets on Saturday in nationwide demonstrations now in their 10th week against plans by the hard-right government to curb the Supreme Court’s powers, which critics see as a threat to judicial independence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who says his aim is to balance out branches of government, wields […]
Israel President floats judicial compromise to prevent “constitutional collapse”
Jerusalem Reuters Israel’s President floated a compromise plan on Sunday to spare the country what he described as a “constitutional collapse” and possible violence, over a contested judicial overhaul sought by the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The rare prime-time television speech by President Isaac Herzog, whose figurehead role is designed to unite […]
Israel’s Herzog tries to prevent “constitutional crisis” over judicial reforms
Jerusalem, Israel Reuters Israel’s President warned on Sunday that the country faced an “historic constitutional crisis” over a contested judicial reform plan, and said he was mediating between the relevant parties. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now in his sixth term, wants to rein in the Supreme Court, which members of his religious-nationalist coalition accuse of […]
Israel’s Netanyahu officially tapped to form government
Tel Aviv, IsraelAP Israel’s President officially tapped former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government on Sunday, opening the door for the likely return to power of the long-serving leader after a one-year hiatus. With Netanyahu comes what’s expected to be Israel’s most right-wing coalition ever. Elections earlier this month indicated a clear win […]