Record numbers of Israelis took part in protests on Saturday night as opposition to Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reforms continues to mount. An estimated 250,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and over 90 other locations. Almost all the reservists in the Israeli air force’s elite Squadron 69 have said they…

Benjamin Netanyahu > Crown Copyright, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The coalition led by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu would lose nine seats and lose its majority in the Knesset if a new election was called, according to a poll released on Friday. The poll was the latest in a series of surveys indicating that the government’s efforts to…

Merav Michaeli > Labour Friends of Israel The Knesset last night passed the first reading of key elements of the Netanyahu government's judicial reform package, despite widespread protests, polling showing strong public opposition, and calls by President Isaac Herzog for a delay and negotiations. The legislation was passed by 63-47. However some MKs, including the opposition Yisrael Beytenu…

The Netanyahu government’s controversial judicial reforms have begun their passage through the Knesset this week – amid a national strike, huge demonstrations and an unprecedented appeal from President Isaac Herzog for the current plans to be abandoned. What happened   More than 100,000 Israelis rallied at the Knesset on Monday as the judicial reforms were debated…

Benjamin Netanyahu > Crown Copyright, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Over 100,000 Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday as mass protests against the Netanyahu government’s controversial judicial reforms enter their sixth week. Demonstrations took place throughout the country, but, as before, Israel’s second city saw the biggest crowds. As the protests continued, President Isaac Herzog attempted to…

Benjamin Netanyahu > Crown Copyright, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Fifty former top civil servants – including some who served under Benjamin Netanyahu for years – have launched a strong attack on the new government’s controversial judicial reforms. A letter this week – which includes the names of former heads of the Prime Minister’s Office, Finance Ministry, Competition Authority…