Ben Gurion departures halted as general strike declared; PM set to give statement

Shekel up against dollar amid expectations Netanyahu may stop overhaul

Israel’s shekel appreciates more than 1% against the US dollar and shares rose amid cautious expectations that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to announce a halt to the contentious judicial overhaul.

The currency is at 3.60 against the greenback in morning trading after hitting a four-year low this month as lawmakers advanced parts of the controversial judicial overhaul, to cement government control over judicial appointments and revoke the High Court’s ability to review Basic Laws.

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s benchmark TA-125 index increases 1.7%, and the TA-35 index of blue-chip companies rises 2%. The TA index of the five largest banks and the TA-Insurance & Financial Services are both up about 2.4%.

Jewish Agency head calls for halt to judicial overhaul: ‘Unprecedented national emergency’

Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog joins the chorus of prominent personalities calling to halt legislation advancing the government’s judicial overhaul.

The plea is the most explicit so far by Almog, who last week joined leaders of the World Zionist Organization, the Jewish Federations of North America, and Keren Hayesod in signing a letter that expressed reservations about the overhaul but stopped short of calling for its shelving.

“Israel is in an unprecedented state of national emergency. An intensifying social rift, and a growing security threat from around us. Our people’s unity is more important than any legislation. Such legislation should come to an immediate halt,” Almog writes.

Departures immediately halted at Ben Gurion Airport as workers union declares strike

The head of the workers union at Ben Gurion Airport announces an immediate halt to departures, minutes after the head of the Histadrut head announces a “historic” labor strike in an attempt to “stop the madness” of the government’s controversial judicial overhaul.

“I ordered the immediate halt of takeoffs at the airport,” says Pinchas Idan.

Bar-David said the strike will begin as soon as today if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not announce a halt to the controversial judicial overhaul.

The airport workers union is the first to take action.

Netanyahu said to delay overhaul speech amid reports of revolt from far-right ministers

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public statement set for 10 a.m. is delayed amid reports that the far-right parties in his coalition are threatening to break up the government if he halts the judicial overhaul.

No new time is giving for the speech, which had been expected to include an announcement of a freeze to the controversial legislation.

Channel 12 news reports that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to quit the coalition, during a meeting of faction heads.

Unnamed Likud lawmakers tell the Walla news site that Justice Minister Yariv Levin is pressuring Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Ben Gvir to threaten Netanyahu with the dissolution of the government if the legal overhaul is stopped.

Histadrut labor federation announces ‘historic general strike’ if judicial overhaul not halted

Histadrut head Arnon Bar-David announces a “historic” labor strike in an attempt to “stop the madness” of the government’s controversial judicial overhaul.

“We are all worried about Israel’s fate,” Bar-David says. “Together we say, enough!”

“We have lost our way — this is not about left or right,” the union head says. “We can no longer polarize the nation.”

“I did everything I could over the past weeks to stop the situation,” Bar-David says, adding that the efforts were in vain.

“We are all joining hands to shut down the State of Israel,” he says. “The malls and the factories will close.”

The strike will also include the health sector.

Bar-David says the strike will begin as soon as today if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not announce a halt to the judicial overhaul.

Bar-David makes his address in a room filled with top business leaders as well as public officials including hospital heads, who often cheer and shout “De-mo-cra-cy.”

He receives a standing ovation at the end of his speech.

Bar-David has until now refrained from involving the powerful union in the demonstrations against the far-reaching proposals to curb the judiciary. Historically, Histadrut strikes over public sector wages and conditions have had profound impacts on the country and its economy.

Liberman calls for Likud to oust Netanyahu and Levin, and find new PM within party

Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman says that he hopes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces his resignation alongside his expected call to stop the overhaul legislation, but says the premier’s Likud party should find a new leader if he doesn’t.

“It turns out it works. No dictator is able to stand up to a broad and just public protest that encompasses all parts of the population,” Liberman tweets.

“I hope that as well as the halt to the legislation, we will hear about the resignation of the prime minister and justice minister,” Liberman says, referring to Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the architect of the judicial overhaul.

“If not, I call on my friends in Likud, for the benefit of the State of Israel, to oust Netanyahu and form a new coalition consisting of the Zionist parties, with the prime minister coming from the ranks of Likud,” Liberman says.

Committee approves judicial appointments bill for its final votes in Knesset

The government’s highly controversial legislation, which heavily politicizes the Judicial Selection Committee and gives the coalition almost complete control over all judicial appointments in Israel, is approved in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee for its final readings in the Knesset plenum.

Opposition MKs denounce committee chairman MK Simcha Rothman throughout the proceedings, shouting and interrupting the hearing as Rothman struggles to complete the voting procedure in committee in the face of the disruption.

“I turn to the hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens who took to the streets last night and say to you ‘You are our brothers and heroes,’ thank you,” says Labor MK Gilad Kariv of the opposition.

“Know that the struggle for Israeli democracy and our home is far from being decided, and we need great strength to guarantee the resilience of Israeli democracy and the future of Zionism,” continues Kariv.

Rothman defends the bill, describing it as “a balanced and good law for all the people of Israel,” and claims that “in every democratic country, the people elect judges. The judges do not have a veto on who will enter the gates of the court and there are balancing mechanisms designed to prevent a small majority from taking over the institutions of power.”

Numerous legal scholars and experts, including the former Irish justice minister Alan Shatter on Sunday, have rejected these arguments, pointing out that even in countries such as Ireland, as well as Canada, Germany, Sweden and others where the justice minister or other cabinet officials make the final selection, candidate lists are drawn up by professional advisory boards with little to no political input.

Gallant: Israel’s security in danger amid judicial overhaul, rifts present opportunity to enemies

Ousted Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warns that Israel’s security is in danger amid the judicial overhaul legislation, in leaks from a closed meeting at the Knesset’s Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee.

“According to intelligence reports, there is a clear identification of the situation being an opportunity [for our enemies] to attack Israel,” Gallant is quoted as saying by Army Radio.

“The rift in Israeli society can bring our enemies to a prime opportunity,” he says, according to Channel 12.

“The Iranians are trying to erode relations between Israel and Arab countries,” he says, according to Channel 13.

Yesterday, a senior defense official speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity said the tensions over the judicial overhaul have led to Israel being viewed “as weak” in the eye of its foes.

Sheba Medical Center preparing to join expected general strike

The Sheba Medical Center announces that it is readying to join the general strike expected to be announced by the country’s largest union.

Prof. Yitshak Kreiss, director of the Ramat Gan hospital, is set to meet with the head of the Histadrut, Arnon Bar-David.

If a strike is declared, medical teams will only treat emergency cases.

The head of the Histadrut labor federation is set to give a press conference amid growing calls to strike following the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for urging a pause to the government’s judicial overhaul.

Bar-David will deliver a “special” statement alongside business and union leaders in the coming hours.

Constitution committee voting to advance judicial appointments bill

The Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee is currently voting to approve the coalition’s Judicial appointments bill for its final Knesset readings.

“After such a night, you continue with this disgrace,” says Yesh Atid MK Vladimir Beliak, shortly before being ordered out by committee chair Simcha Rothman.

Rothman opened the committee saying “we will, God willing,” bring the bill for a vote later today, and was answered by opposition shouts.

According to Army Radio, Likud MK Moshe Saada left the meeting, saying “what’s the point?”

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators streamed into the streets across the country last night after the premier fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, after his former ally warned him that the overhaul was causing damage to Israel’s security.

There have been weekly mass protests for nearly three months against the planned legislation, and a rising wave of objections by top public figures including the president, jurists, business leaders, and more.

Opponents of the overhaul have drawn a line in the sand on the judicial appointments bill, set to advance today, saying it will politicize the court, remove key checks on governmental power and cause grievous harm to Israel’s democratic character.

Far-right minister: We aren’t ready to stop the judicial overhaul

A minister from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party says “we aren’t ready to stop the legislation.”

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu declines to say whether his party will protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s expected announcement that he’s pausing the judicial overhaul.

“It’s giving in to political coercion,” he tells Army Radio, adding that “I think stopping the legislation is a really problematic thing.”

According to Hebrew-language media reports, the premier will announce that he is stopping the overhaul after a night of mass protests following Netanyahu’s firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Netanyahu expected to announce halt to judicial overhaul

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce a halt to the contentious judicial overhaul, according to multiple reports in Hebrew-language media.

The reports all cite “sources close to the prime minister,” without giving further details on any potential conditions.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, the premier will speak at 10:30 a.m. at the Knesset after marathon talks overnight with his political allies.

The move is unlikely to have the support of all members of his hardline coalition.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators streamed into the streets across the country last night after the premier fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, after his former ally warned him that the overhaul was causing damage to Israel’s security.

There have been weekly mass protests for nearly three months against the planned legislation, and a rising wave of objections by top public figures including the president, jurists, business leaders, and more.

Opponents of the overhaul have drawn a line in the sand on the judicial appointments bill, set to advance today, saying it will politicize the court, remove key checks on governmental power and cause grievous harm to Israel’s democratic character.

Gallant to discuss overhaul’s impact on security at Knesset panel; coalition heads to meet on next steps

Freshly dismissed defense minister Yoav Gallant arrives at the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for a closed discussion on how the judicial shakeup is impacting national security.

Gallant made a public plea to pause the legislation on Saturday, arguing that the judicial overhaul was hurting Israel’s national resilience and posed a credible security threat.

Netanyahu dismissed him on Sunday, triggering unprecedented national protests overnight.

Meanwhile, coalition heads are said set to meet at 9am to discuss the national response to the defense minister’s dismissal and steps forward with their judicial overhaul.

Protest leaders announce mass demonstration at Knesset at 2 p.m.

Protest leaders say that a mass demonstration will be held today at 2 p.m. outside the Knesset.

“We will not be allow any compromise that harms the independence of the Supreme Court,” they say.

The umbrella movement of a number of protest groups also calls for the immediate reinstatement of Yoav Gallant, fired yesterday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he said the judicial overhaul was harmful to national security.

Buses have been laid on to bring in protesters from around the country.

There have been weekly mass protests for nearly three months against the planned legislation, and a rising wave of objections by top public figures including the president, jurists, business leaders, and more.

Opponents of the overhaul have drawn a line in the sand on the judicial appointments bill, set to advance today, saying it will politicize the court, remove key checks on governmental power and cause grievous harm to Israel’s democratic character.

Constitution committee opens ahead of vote to send judicial appointments bill to plenum

Despite unprecedented, night-long protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s firing of the defense minister for calling to pause their plan to remake judicial power, and reports the premier will bow to considerable pressure and pause the legislative march, the coalition continues to advance bills this morning.

The Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee opens, planning to vote to send a judicial overhaul bill for its final Knesset votes.

If passed, it would give the coalition power to make key judicial appointments.

At 10am, the Knesset plenum is scheduled to reopen, to approve Supreme Court critic David Amsalem as a second minister in the Justice ministry.

It’s unclear how the Likud MK will split responsibility with Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

The Knesset will also pass a law that lets hospital administrators block people bringing in leavened food during the upcoming Passover holiday.

Member of Netanyahu’s legal defense team says won’t represent him unless overhaul stops

Attorney Boaz Ben Zur, a key member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legal defense team, reportedly tells the premier he will not continue to represent him in Case 4000 unless he stops the judicial overhaul.

Netanyahu is on trial in three corruption cases. He faces charges of fraud and breach of trust in Case 1000 and in Case 2000, and charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in Case 4000. He denies wrongdoing and says the charges were fabricated in a political coup, led by the police and state prosecution.

Case 4000 is the most serious of the three cases against the former prime minister. Netanyahu is alleged to have advanced regulatory decisions as communications minister and prime minister that immensely benefited Shaul Elovitch, who was also the controlling shareholder in Bezeq, the country’s largest telecommunications firm, despite opposition from Communication Ministry officials. In exchange, he allegedly was given what amounted to editorial control over Elovitch’s Walla news site.

Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway reopens, hours after protesters removed by police

Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway reopens, a number of hours after it was eventually cleared of protesters.

Items such as benches and tents had to be removed from the thoroughfare, and the surface needed to be checked for damage.

Demonstrators blocked both directions of the Ayalon Highway and lit bonfires on the road into the early hours of the morning.

Water cannons were fired by police as mounted officers moved in to disperse the demonstrators.

An unconfirmed Channel 12 report said 600,000-700,000 Israelis were demonstrating late Sunday across the country, with protests reported from Kiryat Shmona in the north to Eilat in the south.

Head of largest labor union to make statement amid growing calls for strike

The head of the Histadrut labor federation was due to give a press conference later Monday, amid growing calls for a strike following the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after speaking out against the government’s judicial overhaul.

The Histadrut said Arnon Bar-David would give a “special” statement alongside business chiefs and union leaders, without detailing what he will announce.

Several Hebrew media reports said he was expected to declare a strike.

Video from protests along the Ayalon Highway overnight showed Bar-David chanting “strike” with protesters.

The press conference was announced after Bar-David met with business leaders for what was billed as an emergency meeting. A clip from the end of the meeting showed participants standing and applauding.

ארנון בר דוד יו”ר ההסתדרות בדרך הביתה: שביתה, שביתה, שביתה! pic.twitter.com/lUxDNJ9tDP

— Baruch Sharon (@BaruchSharon1) March 27, 2023

Netanyahu expected to make statement in coming hours

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is widely expected to make an announcement this morning after hundreds of thousands of protesters poured into the streets across the country after he fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Netanyahu has been in meetings with political allies for most of the night, according to Hebrew-language media reports.

There has been no formal confirmation that the premier will speak.

Herzog calls to stop overhaul legislation: ‘A time for leadership and responsibility’

After a night of spontaneous mass protests nationwide, President Isaac Herzog says in a statement that the government must “stop the legislative process immediately.”

“The entire nation is deeply concerned. Security, the economy, society – all are threatened,” Herzog says.

“The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. The eyes of the entire Jewish people are on you. The eyes of the whole world are on you,” he says.

Demonstrators streamed into the streets last night after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, after the latter said the judicial overhaul was endangering state security.

“For the sake of unity with the people of Israel, for the sake of the responsibility that is owed, I call on you to stop the legislative process immediately,” Herzog says.

“This is not a political moment, this is a moment for leadership and responsibility,” Herzog says.

Earlier this month, Herzog issued a proposal for a broadly agreed-upon judicial overhaul. The plan was cautiously accepted by opposition leaders, but immediately rejected by the coalition.