Israel news - latest: Protest leader vows action will continue after Netanyahu delays judicial reforms

A protest leader has vowed that demonstrations will continue in Israel after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would delay controversial judicial reforms until next month.

Dr Shikma Bressler, one of the main leaders of the protest movement, said after Mr Netanyahu’s announcement: “As long as the legislation continues and is not shelved, we will be on the streets.”

Dr Bressler said Mr Netanyahu and his coalition colleagues are clearly determined to press ahead with their “dictatorship laws” in the next Knesset session, a month from now.

“The statements of the prime minister and his extremist partners are an admission of their intention to bring the dictatorship laws back to the table in the next parliamentary session, harming the economy and the security of the country,” she said.

It comes after Mr Netanyahu said he would delay his judicial overhaul plan to the next parliamentary session, telling the nation in a televised address: “I’m not ready to divide the nation in pieces.”

In response to his announcement, Israel’s main labour union called off a nationwide strike.

Police in Tel Aviv used a water cannon against demonstrators who took to the streets again on Monday night, despite the strike being called off.

Key Points

• Israeli PM agrees to delay judicial overhaul until next parliament session

• Thousands take to the streets in Israel after Netanyahu sacks defence minister

• Why are there protests in Israel?

• Protests set to continue despite delay to judicial overhaul

The fallout from the Israel protests will be felt for years to come

05:45 , Namita Singh

The ‘reforms’ proposed by the hard-right coalition strike at the independence of the judiciary – and take away legal checks and balances on political actions, writes our world affairs editor Kim Sengupta.

The fallout from the Israel protests will be felt for years to come | Kim Sengupta

Voices: Israelis are reminding us that protests can work – but they’re not a cure-all

05:30 , Namita Singh

History shows that while popular demonstrations can affect change, there is often a backlash, writes ^{Noah Berlatsky.}

Israelis are reminding us that protests can work – but they’re not a cure-all

Can I travel to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv?

05:00 , Martha Mchardy

The FCDO current advises against all travel to the following areas only:

• Gaza

• the Sheba’a Farms and Ghajjar

• within 500m of the border with Lebanon (the ‘Blue Line’) east of Metula, including the northern edge of the town and and within 500m of the border with Syria (the ‘Alpha Line’)

It advises against all but essential travel to:

• areas north of and including Jenin city, Burqin and Arranah in the north of the West Bank. This includes Jenin refugee camp and all areas north of this until the Jalamah checkpoint for access to Israel

• the city of Nablus, Joseph’s Tomb, and the Balata and New Askar refugee camps near Nablus and the village of Huwara, south of Nablus

While the FCDO does not explicitly advise against travel to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, current advice states it is aware of “a shooting incident in central Tel Aviv. If you’re in the immediate area you should take care and follow the advice of the local authorities.”

It adds: “In Israel and the West Bank, there is a risk of violent incidents, including stabbings, shootings, arson, vehicle rammings and stone throwing attacks on people and vehicles.

“These incidents have involved protestors (both Israelis and Palestinians), Israeli security forces, and civilians (including Israeli settlers). There is a risk that tourists or bystanders could be caught up in any of these types of incident.”

Netanyahu suspends judicial overhaul after day of Israeli turmoil

04:40 , Namita Singh

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu paused his signature plan to overhaul Israel’s judiciary after a day of nationwide turmoil when workers joined a general strike against the proposal and hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets.

The plans by his nationalist religious coalition to hand control over judicial appointments to the executive while giving parliament the power to overturn Supreme Court rulings has ignited one of the biggest internal crises in Israeli history.

Announcing his decision late on Monday to suspend the plans until parliament returns after the break for the Passover holiday and Independence Day next month, Mr Netanyahu said the crisis required all sides to act responsibly.

“Israeli society is on a dangerous collision course. We are in the midst of a crisis that is endangering the basic unity between us,” he said in a prime time television address.

What is the current UK government advice on travelling to Israel?

04:00 , Martha Mchardy

Current guidance from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) advises potential travellers to check with their travel company or airline for an update before travelling.

“In Israel, strikes were called on 27 March which will impact airports, ports, transport systems, hospitals and other sectors,” it reads.

“There have also been large political demonstrations across Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, which have the potential to escalate and become violent.

“You should check the local news before travelling to see if there have been recent clashes, be vigilant, avoid any large gatherings or demonstrations, avoid areas which have been the site of recent violence and follow the instructions of the local authorities.

“If you are in a location where an Israeli security operation or armed clashes are ongoing, you should stay inside and wait for the local authorities to confirm that the situation is calm before moving to a different location.”

What effect could the judicial overview have outside Israel?

03:00 , Martha Mchardy

While the battle may seem like an internal Israeli matter, its outcome could have important repercussions for the region and beyond.

Netanyahu’s coalition allies are dominated by religious and nationalist hardliners who oppose Palestinian statehood and have close ties to the West Bank settlement movement. A weaker court system could clear the way for more aggressive settlement construction and even annexation of West Bank lands.

That could lead to further friction with the Palestinians, who seek the Israeli-occupied West Bank as part of a future independent state, as well as with Israel’s Western allies, who have voiced concerns about the overhaul and criticized the comments of some of his partners.

Israeli soldiers could also be more susceptible to war crimes prosecution in the Hague. One of Israel’s key defences has been that it has an independent judiciary capable of investigating and prosecuting wrongdoing by troops. A weakened judiciary could rob Israel of that defence.

Israel’s high-tech industry, the engine of the country’s economy, could also be affected. International agencies have already said they might lower Israel’s debt rating if the overhaul passes since the agencies consider a strong judiciary crucial to ensuring a good business climate.

A lower rating could make investors hesitant to do business in Israel and potentially lead companies with operations in Israel, including the world’s leading tech giants, to scale back their presence.

Israel protests: Where do we go from here?

02:00 , Martha Mchardy

The pause Netanyahu declared could help ease the tensions and buy him some time to find a compromise. But it also runs the risk of angering his far-right coalition partners — potentially threatening the stability of his government and risking the possibility of new elections.Any new election would once again likely focus again on Netanyahu’s suitability to govern while he faces serious legal problems.

What was the significance of the general strike?

01:00 , Martha Mchardy

Israel’s largest trade union is one of the most powerful institutions in the country, representing nearly 800,000 people across sectors that include health care, banking, government services, day-care and transportation.While the union has crippled parts of the economy in past labour disputes over the years, never before has it gone on strike to protest a political matter.

The decision was felt almost immediately. Israel’s main international airport cancelled all outgoing flights, stranding more than 70,000 travelers. Doctors and day care workers said they would stay off the job, and others were expected to join as well.The economy already has been hit by the protests, with the shekel currency tumbling in value in recent weeks. A protracted strike could have meant longer-lasting and deeper damage.

ICYMI: Israel protests in pictures

00:00 , Martha Mchardy

What fuelled the latest protests?

23:00 , Martha Mchardy

Israel has experienced nearly three months of mass protests since Netanyahu’s confidant, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, unveiled the overhaul in January.But the eruption of anger over Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s dismissal, organized quickly largely via the WhatsApp messaging app, was startling. In roughly one hour, tens of thousands of people blocked Tel Aviv’s main highway, and thousands more demonstrated outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home.

Gallant was the first Cabinet minister to break ranks and publicly call for a delay in the overhaul. With morale down and soldiers threatening not to report for duty, Gallant said that pushing ahead could hurt Israel’s military readiness.In security-obsessed Israel, Gallant, a gruff retired general, is among the most respected members of the new Cabinet. By attacking the man responsible for national security, Netanyahu may have crossed a red line — and unwittingly united this deeply polarized country by touching upon national security, one of the few areas of consensus.

What are the judicial reforms?

22:00 , Martha Mchardy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed judicial overhaul unleashed the most intense social unrest in Israel in decades before he announced that he would delay the plan.

The changes would give the governing coalition control over judicial appointments and weaken the country’s Supreme Court by granting parliament the authority to overturn its decisions and limiting judicial review of laws.

Opponents say the overhaul would upend the country’s delicate system of checks and balances by giving Netanyahu’s ruling coalition control over what is now an independent judiciary. They also say Netanyahu has a deep conflict of interest in trying to reshape the legal system while on trial.The government says the legal changes are necessary to streamline governance in the face of an interventionist judiciary.

Tel Aviv police use stun grenades to disperse protestors, according to reports

21:58 , Martha Mchardy

Police are using stun grenades to dissuade anti-government protesters from breaching barriers to reach the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, according to The Times of Israel.

Police officers are also trying to disperse right-wing protesters blocking Menachem Begin Boulevard in Jerusalem, who are protesting against the juducial overhaul reforms being delayed.

Footage shows protesters setting a fire on the road and adding items like car tires.

Police in Tel Aviv use water cannon against demonstrators

21:25 , Martha Mchardy

Police in Tel Aviv have used a water cannon against demonstrators who have taken to the streets again, despite a promise from the Prime Minister to pause his controversial judiciary reforms.

Israel protests: How did we get here?

21:00 , Martha Mchardy

Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption in three separate cases, has been at the center of political turmoil that has plagued the country since 2019.After he was indicted, Netanyahu’s former governing partners turned on him, and he was unable to form a stable, lasting coalition. That led to a protracted political crisis that sent Israelis to the polls five times in less than four years.

After an 18-month political exile as opposition leader, Netanyahu returned to power late last year in a coalition with ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist allies, forming the country’s most right-wing government ever. He denies wrongdoing in the corruption cases.

After taking power, key figures in Netanyahu’s Likud Party along with his governing partners pledged to quickly overhaul the country’s judicial system, which critics say is driven by a desire to push their ideological agendas with less judicial oversight.

Protests set to continue despite delay to judicial overhaul

20:38 , Martha Mchardy

Some protest leaders say the protests are set to continue in Israel after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would delay controversial judicial reforms until next month.

Protests leaders say action will continue because the overhaul vote would only be delayed, not shelved.

“As long as the legislation continues and is not shelved, we will be on the streets,” said Dr. Shikma Bressler, one of the main leaders of the protest movement.

Dr Bressler said Netanyahu and his coalition colleagues are clearly determined to press ahead with their “dictatorship laws” in the next Knesset session, a month from now, Times of Israel reported.

“The statements of the prime minister and his extremist partners are an admission of their intention to bring the dictatorship laws back to the table in the next parliamentary session, harming the economy and the security of the country,” she said.

White House welcomes Netanyahu delay in judicial overhaul and urges compromise

20:08 , Martha Mchardy

The United States has welcomed the decision by by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay a decision on divisive plans for a judicial overhaul until next month, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Netanyahu on Monday delayed a decision on bitterly contested plans for a judicial overhaul until next month amid fears that the country’s worst national crisis in years could fracture his coalition or escalate into violence.

“We welcome this announcement as an opportunity to create additional time and space for compromise. A compromise is precisely what we have been calling for. And we continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible,” Jean-Pierre said.

The United States remains concerned about the situation in Israel and President Joe Biden has shared his concerns about a proposed judicial overhaul directly with Netanyahu, the White House said on Monday.

“We remain concerned by the recent developments,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters, calling for compromise.

Kirby noted that Israel had been invited to a U.S.-organized Summit for Democracy later this week.

Kirby said Biden has been “very forthright” with Netanyahu about his concerns. Asked if Biden was worried that Israel would devolve into civil war, Kirby said he was not.

He said U.S. concerns about the judicial reform legislation were that it would “fly in the face” of the principle of having checks and balances in government.

“All of that concern comes from ... a place of respect and friendship and admiration for the Israeli people, for Israel as a country and for Israel’s democracy,” Kirby said.

In pictures: Israel protests

20:00 , Martha Mchardy

Watch: Benjamin Netanyahu defends 'democratic' new judiciary reform

19:40 , Martha Mchardy

Why are there protests in Israel?

19:20 , Martha Mchardy

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Israel evening to protest against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial reforms to the country’s judicial system.

Chanting “the country is on fire”, demonstrators gathered outside Mr Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Sunday evening to demand the draft legislation be withdrawn, only to be dispersed by police water cannons. Bonfires were meanwhile lit along Tel Aviv’s biggest motorway, forcing road closures and causing traffic mayhem.

On Monday, the protests continued, while Israel’s largest union, Histadrut, which represents 700,000 workers across a huge variety of professions, called for an immediate general strike. Universities have closed their doors “until further notice” and flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport have been grounded, as pressure grows to halt the legislation.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

Why are there protests in Israel?

Is it safe to travel to Israel?

19:00 , Martha Mchardy

At the time of writing, all flights leaving Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary aviation hub, have been suspended until further notice due to widespread strikes announced by the Worker’s Union.

Flights that are already in the air will be the only ones permitted to land, it has been reported.

Despite this, passengers continued the check-in process without knowing if their flights would depart.

The live departures board shows flights scheduled to leave later in the day, but these are not expected to go ahead.

A spokesperson for the Worker’s Union said that if Mr Netanyahu stops the judicial reform legislation, flights will return to normal, the Jerusalem Post reports.

Read more here:

Is it safe to travel to Israel? Latest travel news

UK welcomes Netanyahu's decision to pause judicial overhaul

18:57 , Martha Mchardy

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly welcomed Israel’s decision to pause legislation to reform its judiciary, as he emphasised the importance of “a robust system of checks and balances.”

“The UK welcomes the decision today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause legislation to reform Israel’s judiciary,” Cleverly said in a statement after Netanyahu delayed the decision until next month amid widespread protests.

“It is vital that the shared democratic values that underpin that (UK-Israel) relationship are upheld, and a robust system of checks and balances are preserved.”

Israeli labour union calls off nationwide strike after judicial overhaul delayed

18:44 , Martha Mchardy

Israel’s main labour union called off a nationwide strike after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would delay his judicial overhaul plan to the next parliamentary session.

“The strike that I announced this morning will end,” said Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut labour federation, on Monday, praising Netanyahu for the move and offering help in forming a reform with mutual agreement.

Benjamin Netanyahu decries ‘extremist minority ready to divide our nation'

18:42 , Martha Mchardy

Israeli PM Netanyahu decried what he called an “extremist minority ready to divide our nation,” in an address to the nation today.

Mr Netanyahu said he is “not ready to divide the nation in pieces” amid mass protests over a planned judicial overhaul.

Israeli PM Netanyahu says delaying judicial overhaul to reach broad consensus

18:33 , Martha Mchardy

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would delay his flagship judicial reform to the next parliamentary session.

“From a will to prevent the rift in the nation, I have decided to delay the second and third reading in order to reach a broad consensus,” he said in a prime time televised address delivered after some of the biggest street protests in the country’s history.

Israeli PM Netanyahu: ‘I will turn over every stone to find a solution'

18:24 , Martha Mchardy

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he will “turn over every stone to find a solution” to the protests over a planned judicial overhaul, in an address to the nation.

Mr Netanyahu is addressing the nation after a day of protests.

Israeli PM Netanyahu: ‘We are at a dangerous cross roads’

18:22 , Martha Mchardy

The country is at a “dangerous cross roads”, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the nation.

Mr Netanyahu is addressing the nation after a day of protests.

Government will delay the second and third readings of justice bill

18:20 , Martha Mchardy

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says his government will delay the second and third readings of the justice bill following a parliamentary session.

He adds that the delay comes from a will to reach a broad consensus.

Israeli PM Netanyahu: ‘I’m not ready to divide the nation in pieces’

18:18 , Martha Mchardy

“I’m not ready to divide the nation in pieces,” Israeli Benjamin PM Netanyahu said in an address to the nation.

Mr Netanyahu is addressing the nation after a day of protests.

Benjamin Netanyahu addresses nation

18:14 , Martha McHardy

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has started speaking.

Mr Netanyahu is addressing the nation after a day of protests.

White House’s Kirby says Biden has shared concerns with Netanyhu

17:45 , Martha Mchardy

United States president Joe Biden has shared his concerns about the situation in Israel directly with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid protests over a planned judicial overhaul, the White House said on Monday.

White House spokesman John Kirby said Mr Biden has been “very forthright” with Mr Netanyhu.

Right-Wing Israeli lawmaker says halting judicial overhaul plans would be a mistake

17:25 , Martha Mchardy

Right-Wing Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman told the Israeli Channel Seven pro-settler media channel that halting the government’s planned judicial overhaul would be a mistake, after a key coalition member said passing the legislation would be delayed to the Israeli parliament’s next session.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to make statement shortly

17:23 , Martha Mchardy

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to make a statement shortly, his office has said.

It comes amid a sprialling political crisis over plans to overhaul the judicial system that have caused street protests across the country.

Israel parliament approves 2023-2024 state budget in preliminary vote

17:02 , Martha Mchardy

Israel’s parliament has given initial approval to the state’s 2023-2024 budget on Monday in a key test of the governing coalition amid a battle over the government’s flagship judicial overhaul plans.

The cabinet last month had approved the budget draft that the Finance Ministry expects will be fully ratified by the end of May. The budget allocates spending of 484.8 billion shekels ($136 billion) this year and 513.7 billion next year.

The budget next heads to parliament’s finance committee, where it typically undergoes changes before final votes in the full plenum.

Lawmakers voted 62-52 in favour of the spending package, just after an announcement that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was delaying the discussions on his legal system overhaul.

Netanyahu sacked his defence minister on Sunday for opposing moving forward on the plan at the current time, setting off mass protests and rifts within his own Likud party and other coalition partners.

“We are bringing significant structural reforms that will accelerate economic growth, along with a significant budget investment, a response to security needs ... and wage requirements, while proportionately restraining spending,” said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich before the vote.

The ministry has set budget deficits of 0.9 per cent in 2023 and 0.8 per cent of gross domestic product in 2024, up from a 0.6 per cent surplus in 2022.

Israel’s economy is set to grow around 3% this year from a 6.4 per cent spurt in 2022, while inflation remains above a 5 per cent rate despite aggressive interest rate increases.

“The budget will allow the government to implement its policy, while maintaining fiscal responsibility that will help stabilize the economy and prevent the worsening of inflation,” Smotrich said.

“Approving the budget is a critical step - it conveys to the public, rating companies and investors that Israel is acting responsibly and will help ensure stability.”

Rating agencies have warned that the judicial reforms could pressure Israel’s sovereign credit ratings.

Judicial overhaul delayed for ‘at least several weeks,’ national security minister says

16:59 , Martha Mchardy

A powerful partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government says the country’s proposed judicial overhaul has been delayed for at least several weeks.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says he agreed to a delay in the legislation until parliament reconvenes for its summer session on April 30.

There was no immediate confirmation from Netanyahu.

In a statement, Ben-Gvir said the interim period would give time for a compromise agreement to be reached with the political opposition.

But he said if a deal is not reached, the package would be approved in the summer session.

Ben-Gvir has been a leading proponent of the overhaul, and his statement could pave the way for Netanyahu to announce a delay.

Israel’s Netanyahu ‘to delay’ controversial judicial reforms in wake of mass protests

16:50 , Martha Mchardy

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu will delay controversial reforms to the judicary in the wake of mass protests, according to the far-right Jewish Power party, a member of the ruling coalition goverment.

The party’s leader, the security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said in a statement that he had agreed to delay the government’s overhaul of the judiciary in exchange for a promise it would be brought after the upcoming parliamentary recess.

“I agreed to remove the veto to reject the legislation in exchange for a commitment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the legisltaion would be submitted to the Knesset for approval in the next session”.

Chris Stevenson reports:

Israel’s Netanyahu ‘to delay’ controversial judicial reforms in wake of mass protests

Israel's Ben-Gvir says agrees to delay judiciary reform package

16:45 , Martha Mchardy

The head of one of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-right coalition partners said on Monday he had agreed to delay the government’s overhaul of the judiciary in exchange for a promise it would be brought after the upcoming parliamentary recess.

“I agreed to remove the veto to reject the legislation in exchange for a commitment by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the legisltaion would be submitted to the Knesset for approval in the next session,” security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said in a statement.

‘This hour different to any before’, says Israeli army chief of staff

16:31 , Martha Mchardy

Israel’s army chief of staff called on soldiers on Monday to continue to do their duty and act with responsibility in the face of bitter social divisions over government plans to overhaul the judiciary.

“This hour is different to any that we have known before. We have not known such days of external threats coalescing, while a storm is brewing at home,” Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said in remarks made public by the military press office.

Israeli PM agrees to delay judicial overhaul until next parliament session

16:24 , Martha Mchardy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will delay the process for discussions on the controversial planned judicial overhaul to next month, a statement from the far-right and coalition member party Jewish Power said on Monday.

The statement said the legislation would be pushed to the next session of the Israeli parliament in order to “pass the reform through dialogue,” the statement said.

Parliament will go on recess next week for the Passover holiday.

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrate outside parliament

16:08 , Joe Middleton

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated outside parliament in an effort to halt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary.

Demonstrators turned the streets surrounding the building and the Supreme Court into a roiling sea of blue-and-white Israeli flags dotted with rainbow Pride banners.

Large demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Haifa and other Israeli cities drew thousands more.

“This is the last chance to stop this move into a dictatorship,” said Matityahu Sperber, 68, who joined a stream of people headed to the protest outside the Knesset. “I’m here for the fight to the end.”

Pictured: Israelis against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu

16:01 , Joe Middleton

Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu defends 'democratic' new judiciary reform

15:08 , Joe Middleton

Why are there protests in Israel?

14:04 , Joe Middleton

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Israel evening to protest against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial reforms to the country’s judicial system.

Chanting “the country is on fire”, demonstrators gathered outside Mr Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Sunday evening to demand the draft legislation be withdrawn, only to be dispersed by police water cannons. Bonfires were meanwhile lit along Tel Aviv’s biggest motorway, forcing road closures and causing traffic mayhem.

On Monday, the protests continued, while Israel’s largest union, Histadrut, which represents 700,000 workers across a huge variety of professions, called for an immediate general strike. Universities have closed their doors “until further notice” and flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport have been grounded, as pressure grows to halt the legislation.

Joe Sommerlad explains why protests have started in Israel.

Why are there protests in Israel?

Israeli embassies join strike action

13:45 , Joe Middleton

Israeli embassies worldwide were instructed to join a strike on Monday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan, a workers’ union letter seen by Reuters said.

The letter, citing a nationwide strike in Israel declared by the Histadrut labour federation, said Foreign Ministry activities in the country and abroad would be limited to emergency services

Israel protest: Flights suspended from Tel Aviv airport

13:15 , Joe Middleton

Mass protests in Israel after Netanyahu sacks defence minister

12:35 , Joe Middleton

Protestors have taken to the streets in Israel after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked his defence minister.

The country has faced weeks of mass protests over controversial plans to overhaul the judiciary.

Mr Netanyahu fired Yoav Gallant on Sunday (26 March) after the retired army general called for a halt to the reforms.

“The security of the state of Israel has always been and will always remain the mission of my life,” Mr Gallant said.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the sacking is a new low for the government.

Mass protests in Israel after Netanyahu sacks defence minister

Israel‘s justice minister backs Netanyahu on judicial overhaul

11:56 , Joe Middleton

Israel‘s justice minister said he would respect any decision prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes about the future of a bitterly contested judicial overhaul, adding that lack of unity in the government could bring it down.

“A situation in which everyone does as they wish is liable to bring about the instant fall of the government and collapse of the (ruling party) Likud,” Yariv Levin said in a statement. “We must all strive to stabilise the government and coalition.”

Two main ports in Israel stop work

11:10 , Joe Middleton

Two main ports in Israel have announced that they had stopped work in adherence to a labour strike in protest at the religious-nationalist government’s judicial overhaul.

Haifa and Ashdod ports said in separate statements that work was halted after Israel‘s main labour union announced a general strike earlier on Monday until Prime Minister Benjamin Netanayhu stopped judicial legislation.

Netanayhu government survives no-confidence vote in parliament

10:11 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition government on Monday survived a no-confidence motion filed by the opposition in protest at its judicial overhaul plan.

The motion failed by a vote of 59-53, the Knesset speaker said.

Israel ally US says it is ‘deeply concerned’ by protests

09:57 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The developments were being watched in Washington, which is closely allied with Israel yet has been uneasy with Netanyahu and the far-right elements of his government.

National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the United States was “deeply concerned” by the developments in Israel, “which further underscore the urgent need for compromise.”“Democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” Watson said in a statement.

Opposition to Netanyahu plan mounts as unions launch strike

09:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Israel‘s largest trade union group launched a strike across a broad swath of sectors Monday, joining a surging protest movement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary — a plan that is facing unprecedented opposition.

The strike by the Histadrut umbrella group, which represents more than 700,000 workers in health, transit and banking, among many other fields, could paralyze large parts of Israel‘s economy, which is already on shaky ground, ratcheting up the pressure on Netanyahu to suspend the overhaul.

Departing flights out of the country’s main international airport were grounded in protest, affecting thousands of travelers. Other sectors were also falling in line, with local governments, which manage pre-schools and other essential services, as well as a main doctors union announcing they would walk out.

The growing resistance to the plan came hours after tens of thousands of people burst into the streets around the country in a spontaneous show of anger at Netanyahu’s decision to fire his defense minister after he called for a pause to the overhaul. Chanting “the country is on fire,” they lit bonfires on Tel Aviv’s main highway, closing the throughway and many others throughout the country for hours.

Breaking: Netanyahu tells coalitions heads he will pause judicial overhaul

09:51 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Breaking news:

Benjamin Netanyahu has told coalition heads he will pause the judicial overhaul that has sparked the mass protests in Israel, according to the country’s broadcaster Kan.

Stay tuned for live updates.

Thousands take to the streets in Israel after Netanyahu sacks defence minister

09:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Israel after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked his defence minister and his counsel general in New York resigned.

The country has faced weeks of mass protest over controversial plans to overhaul the judiciary.

Mr Netanyahu fired his defence minister on Sunday after the former army general called for a halt to the divisive reforms, drawing concerns internationally, including from the United States.

Yoav Gallant, a senior member of Mr Netanyahu’s ruling party, called for the changes to be paused until after next month’s Independence Day holidays.

Thousands take to the streets in Israel after Netanyahu sacks defence minister

Welcome

09:47 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

... to our liveblog where we will keep you updated with the latest on the protests in Israel.