After massive protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a temporary halt to the controversial judicial reform. "I have decided to suspend the second and third readings in this session," Netanyahu said in Jerusalem on Monday. The draft law will therefore be submitted to parliament for a vote at the end of April at the earliest.
"We are in the midst of a crisis that threatens our essential unity," Netanyahu said. He warned of a civil war that should not be allowed to happen. "Everyone must act responsibly," he said. That is why he extends his hand to dialogue.
Israel's Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had previously announced that he had agreed on a postponement with Netanyahu. In return, a "National Guard" is to be set up under the leadership of the right-wing extremist politician. What this means in concrete terms was not clear at first. According to media reports, Ben-Gvir and Netanyahu had previously met for an emergency meeting in which Ben-Gvir is said to have threatened to resign if Netanyahu did not stick to the reform plans.
Critics see the separation of powers in danger
Organizers of the demonstrations, which have been going on for weeks, announced that they would continue the protests. "The government has brought Israel close to destruction and it still threatens to dismantle democracy. A temporary freeze is not enough and national protests will intensify until the law is rejected in the Knesset," it said in a statement on Monday evening.
Netanyahu's coalition wants to curtail the influence of the Supreme Court and expand the government's position of power with the judicial reform. The right-wing religious coalition accuses the Supreme Court of excessive interference in political decisions. According to the plans, it should be possible for Parliament in the future to overturn decisions of the court by a simple majority. In addition, the composition of the panel for the appointment of judges is to be changed. Critics see the separation of powers in danger and warn of a national crisis.