2023-07-24 06:58:01
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left hospital Monday following emergency heart surgery and was facing an unprecedented national crisis ahead of a parliamentary vote on the first major piece of legislation to transform the country’s judicial system.
The protesters, many of whom believe the government’s plan erodes the very foundations of their country, redoubled their opposition and blocked a street leading to parliament. Businesses across the country closed their doors in protest of the vote.
The judicial reform, pushed by a governing coalition of ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious parties, has divided Israel and strained the country’s delicate social ties, shaking the cohesion of its powerful military and prompting repeated expressions of concern even from its biggest ally, the United States.
Efforts were underway to reach a last-minute compromise, with the country’s president, Isaac Herzog, alternating consultations with both sides and even holding a meeting at the hospital where Netanyahu was hospitalized to seek an agreement. But it was not clear that a compromise might be reached.
Protesters blocked a street leading to the Knesset on Monday morning and police used water cannons to push them back. A business consortium announced late Sunday that some of its members would not open Monday in protest of government plans, according to Israeli media. Large shopping mall chains and some gas stations closed their doors.
Judicial reform calls for big changes to limit the power of judges, ranging from limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to challenge parliamentary decisions to changing the way judges are chosen.
Netanyahu and his far-right allies, a collection of ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, say changes are needed to curb the power of unelected judges. His opponents, who come mainly from Israel’s professional middle class, say the plan will destroy the country’s fragile system of checks and balances and drive Israel towards authoritarianism.
The bill has sparked seven months of mass protests, harsh criticism from medical and business leaders and a growing number of army reservists in key units have said they will stop reporting for duty if the plan is approved, raising concerns that Israeli security may be threatened.
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Scharf reported from Jerusalem.
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