Benjamin Netanyahu: Israeli PM in London for meeting with Rishi Sunak

Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at Downing Street for his meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak after "a Day of Paralysis" on Israel's streets culminated in a national address and calls for unity.

Netanyahu last night made a televised speech in Israel calling on the country to come together saying: “I say this evening: I believe that it is possible to enact a reform that will answer both sides, a reform that will restore the proper balance between the authorities and, on the other hand, safeguard, and I say beyond that, not just safeguard but ensure the individual rights of every citizen in the country,” he said.

“We have not come to run over and to trample. We have come to balance and correct,” Netanyahu added. “Therefore, we are determined to correct and responsibly advance the democratic reform that will restore the proper balance between the authorities.”

His speech came amid speculation that defence minister Yoav Galant was preparing to call for the controversial judicial reform bill to be paused amid huge national protests in Israel.

Netanyahu, who returned to government at the end of 2022, is expected to use the occasion to “sell” his policies to Number 10, maintaining that the judicial reform proposals will not affect Israel’s commitment to being a democratic society.

Protesters against Netanyahu's planned reforms gathered outside Downing Street with Israeli flags and posters calling for his government to reconsider the legislation.