Amid a wave of mass protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delayed his controversial judicial overhaul plan on Monday, saying he wanted to “avoid a civil war” by freeing up time to seek compromise with political opponents.
The announcement seemed to calm some of the tensions that fueled three tumultuous months of turmoil. But it failed to address the underlying issues that have polarized the nation, and the anti-governmental protest movement vowed to step up its efforts.
In his prime-time speech, Netanyahu, who had previously rejected calls to delay the legislation, took a more conciliatory tone than in recent speeches. Acknowledging the deep divisions in the country, he said he hit the pause button “to prevent a rift in the nation.”
Anti-government protesters block streets and clash with police during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government plans to overhaul the judiciary
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu interrupted a judicial review on the night of March 27, 2023 that sparked a general strike, political division and mass protests in the country’s worst domestic crisis in years
An Israeli protester is detained by police during post-demonstration clashes
Israeli protester throws a sign depicting Netanyahu at a bonfire after clashes broke out during a demonstration against the government’s judicial overhaul.
“If there is a chance to avoid civil war through dialogue, as prime minister I will take time out for dialogue,” he said. He promised to reach a “broad consensus” at the summer session of parliament, which starts on April 30.
He spoke after tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated outside parliament and the country’s largest union launched a nationwide strike in a dramatic escalation of the mass protest movement against his plan.
Netanyahu and his religious and ultra-nationalist allies presented the revision in January just days after forming their government, the most right-wing in Israel’s history.
A protester waves the Israeli flag as police officers use the water cannon after clashes break out
The proposal has plunged Israel into its worst domestic crisis in decades. Business leaders, top economists and former security chiefs have all spoken out against the plan, saying it pushes the country toward an autocracy. Fighter pilots and military reservists have threatened not to report, and the country’s currency, the shekel, has fallen in value.
The plan would give Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges, and his allies the final say in appointing the country’s judges. It would also give parliament, which is controlled by its allies, the power to overturn Supreme Court decisions and limit the court’s ability to review laws.
Netanyahu has argued that the overhaul is necessary to rein in a liberal and overly interventionist court of unelected judges. But his detractors say the package would damage the country’s system of checks and balances by concentrating power in the hands of Netanyahu’s allies. They also say he has a conflict of interest as a criminal defendant.
Tens of thousands of people, mostly middle-class secular Israelis, have regularly joined mass protests against the plan.
Those demonstrations intensified on Sunday night after Netanyahu abruptly fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who had urged the prime minister to suspend his plan, citing concerns about damage to the Israeli military.
The fire sparked a spontaneous outburst of anger, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets in just an hour.
They chanted “the country is on fire” and lit bonfires on Tel Aviv’s main highway, shutting down the thoroughfare and many others across the country for hours.
Protesters continued outside the Knesset, or parliament, on Monday, turning the streets around the building and the Supreme Court into a swirling sea of blue and white Israeli flags dotted with rainbow Pride banners.
Anti-government protesters raise tires and a flag near Beit Yanai, Israel
“This is the last chance to stop this transition to dictatorship,” said 68-year-old Matityahu Sperber, who joined a stream of people heading for the protest outside the Knesset. “I’m here for the fight to the end.”
Israel’s main trade union, the histadrut, declared a general strike in what it said was the first time it had staged such action on a political issue.
The chaos shut down much of the country and threatened to paralyze the economy. Departing flights from the main international airport were grounded, leaving tens of thousands of travelers stranded.
Major retail chains and universities closed their doors and the union called on its 800,000 members to stop working in healthcare, public transport, banking and other areas.
Diplomats walked out of foreign missions and local governments were expected to close kindergartens and shut down other services. The main doctors’ union announced that its members would also strike.
In a sign of easing tensions, the union said late Monday that it was ending the strike in response to Netanyahu’s delay.
The announcement seemed to buy the embattled Netanyahu several weeks of silence. But it was far from clear whether the disputes could be resolved.
The country’s figurehead president, Isaac Herzog, said pausing the legislative blitz was “the right thing to do.”
“Now is the time for frank, serious and responsible discussions that will urgently lead to calming the spirits and reducing the flames,” he said.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he was ready to have a “real dialogue” under Herzog’s sponsorship.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultra-nationalist who has pushed for a swift adoption of the package, said he would respect the delay but showed little sign of compromise.
“The reform will succeed,” he tweeted. “No one will frighten us.”
The first in a series of laws – giving the coalition control over judicial appointments – was due to be passed this week.
Before Netanyahu’s speech, some 20,000 right-wing Israelis attended a counter-demonstration in support of the prime minister. That demonstration also took place near the parliament and was without violence.
“They will not steal the election from us,” read a flyer for an event organized by the Religious Zionist Party. Netanyahu said he was “moved” by the statement of support.
Shikma Bressler, one of the leaders of the anti-governmental protest movement, said the campaign would continue until the legislation is canceled.
“This is just an attempt to weaken the protests to carry out Netanyahu’s dictatorship,” she said. “Now is not the time to lower the pressure, but to increase it.”
Former Israeli ambassador to the UK Mark Regev has defended Netanyahu’s proposal to overhaul the judiciary, arguing that it was part of the government’s agenda when the prime minister was re-elected last year.
Speaking of the mass protests against the controversial reforms, Mr Regev told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘There were tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands of protesters on the streets (in Israel), but a poll was taken and that was the Israeli elections on November 1.
“This government was elected by a majority and reform of the judicial system was on the agenda.
“Even people who voted for the government support the idea that this should be done in a less confrontational way, that it should be done by consensus.
“I think there is support on both sides of the legal divide for this process of dialogue, which I hope will succeed, but I’m not sure it will.”
He added: “All coalition governments involve compromises, and I am sure from his perspective Netanyahu was not re-elected as prime minister to see other people dominate the agenda.”
Dozens of protesters from rival parties clashed late Monday in central Tel Aviv. The parties, who were kept apart by police, exchanged insults, but there was no violence. Police used a water cannon to disperse anti-government protesters.
The Palestinian citizens of Israel have largely sat out the protests. Many say that Israel’s democracy is being eroded by the military rule over their brethren in the West Bank and the discrimination they face themselves.
The Biden administration, uncomfortable with Netanyahu and the far-right elements of his administration, welcomed the announcement as “an opportunity to create additional time and space for compromise,” White House press secretary Karine Jean said. -Pierre, to reporters.