Israel
Netanyahu pauses judicial reform after striking deal with Ben Gvir
The prime minister's plans will be temporarily suspended after public outcry
March 27, 2023 15:45
The prime minister's plans will be temporarily suspended after public outcry
March 27, 2023 15:45Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has temporarily suspended his plans for judicial reform after his coalition partner announced a deal has been struck to keep his governing coalitiong together.
In a televised address to the Israeli people, Netanyahu quoted the biblical story of King Solomon to emphasise that the country should come together and celebrate Pesach instead of allowing the discord to continue.
Protesters and supporters of Netanyahu's government gathered in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in their thousands with organisers signalling that the brief respite in the bill's process through the Knesset would not mean the end of protests.
Itamar Ben Gvir, the controversial national security minister from the Otzma Yehudit party announced this afternoon that he would continue to support Netanyahu's coalition, after threatening to walk out if the judicial reform bill was paused or suspended.
Ben Gvir's support was reportedly won after Netanyahu agreed to the formation of a 'national guard' civil force which Ben Gvir claims will ensure public safety across Israel.
The new unit will be formed within the national security ministry, under the leadership of Ben Gvir.
Netanyahu, who has not yet made a public address confirming the news, is reportedly planning to use opposition votes to get his judicial reforms passed later this year.
The embattled prime minister is facing a wave of civil disobedience in Israel as workers from across Israel in a variety of sectors walked out on Monday, following calls for a general strike by the Israeli trade union Histadrut.
The widespread strikes also affected the UK, with Israeli diplomats walking out of the London embassy and restricting services to "emergencies only."