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by Brian Shilhavy
Editor, Health Impact News

A day after the largest protests in the history of modern-day Israel, most Israeli embassies were closed today, including their embassy in Washington D.C., to show support for the protesters in Israel.

Multiple Israeli embassies and consulates were closed on Monday, after diplomats and staff joined the general strike in protest over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judiciary reform proposal.

“The Embassy of Israel will be closed today until further notice and no consular services will be provided,” Elad Strohmayer, spokesman for the embassy in Washington, tweeted on Monday morning. A tweet in Hebrew on the embassy’s account confirmed his announcement.

Strohmayer explained that the Histadrut, Israel’s largest labor union, “instructed all government employees to go on strike, including Israel’s diplomatic missions around the world.” 

Israel’s embassy in France also joined the strike.

The general strike has already shut down the Ben Gurion international airport in Tel Aviv and much of Israel’s healthcare system. The Histadrut said the unusual measure was intended to “stop the madness” of the proposed judiciary reform.

Netanyahu’s plan to curb the powers of the Supreme Court has been met with widespread indignation. Protests against the measure drew over 600,000 people to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday. Asaf Zamir, Israel’s consul general in New York, resigned in protest. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made a public statement against the reform on Sunday, and was promptly dismissed. (Source.)

In a much anticipated announcement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a speech at around 8 p.m. local time Monday night stating that the government would pause their judicial overhaul plans, in order to avoid a civil war. There are questions as to how much support he has in the military.

In a much anticipated 8pm (local) speech, at a moment hundreds of thousands of protesters are in the streets, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed in a televised speech that he will pause his ultra-controversial judicial overhaul plans which many say would destroy Israeli democracy and court independence.

He emphasized that he is aware of the deepening divide and tensions in society as a result of the legislation, but called the anger in the streets the product of an “extremist minority” that is “tearing Israel apart.”

The crisis not only resulted in massive national strikes on Monday, but escalated to the point of growing numbers of refusals of recruits and soldiers to serve in the Israeli Defense Force’s reserve units, putting the country’s security in peril. According to Netanyahu’s words as reported in the Times of Israel:

The premier says he has repeatedly called for dialogue on the overhaul plan and says there “must not be a civil war,” saying there is a severe crisis in Israeli society.

“When there’s an option to avoid civil war through dialogue, I take a time-out for dialogue,” he says, adding that “out of national responsibility,” he is delaying the final readings of a divisive judicial appointments bill — under which the coalition would take almost complete of their appointment of all Israel’s judges — until the next Knesset session a month from now.

Within hours before Netanyahu’s speech, the White House issued an unusual statement, considering Israel has long been thought of as Washington’s most stable and dependable ally.

“President Biden is not concerned that Israel will deteriorate to a civil war,” NSC spokesman John Kirby said.

But while dissent and chaos has been unleashed even within the prime minster’s own Likud party, given some officials have gone on public broadcast stations to show their disapproval of the judicial overhaul, some powerful ministers are still vowing to follow Netanyahu’s lead.

According to the latest from Axios, “In a dramatic turn later Monday, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who had also threatened to resign, issued a statement stressing that he would respect any decision Netanyahu makes regarding the judicial overhaul. He also said he would work to stabilize the coalition in order to prevent the government from collapsing. Levin’s announcement gave Netanyahu important backing for suspending the legislation.”

For the first time in history, Israel’s main union, as well as leaders from the banks and the entire business sector, have declared general strike demanding that the government stop the plan to overhaul the judicial system. (Full article.)

It remains to be seen if Netanyahu’s remarks will be enough to end the protests and strikes. Opposition organizers have reportedly stated that a “temporary” pause in the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary are not enough.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that a controversial plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary will be delayed until May after months of protest and opposition from within his own government.

Netanyahu has pushed the plan for a month, and in the meantime, has signed a document granting right-wing Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir – one of the strongest proponents of the plan – what critics say is tantamount to a private militia.

But even before he delivered his address, the grassroots anti-government protest movement said a delay was not enough.

“A temporary freeze does not suffice, and the national protests will continue to intensify until the law is rejected in the Knesset,” organisers said.

In his comments, Netanyahu said he wanted to allow for more time to reach a compromise over the contentious package with his political opponents.

“Out of a sense of national responsibility, out of a will to prevent a rupture among our people, I have decided to pause the second and third readings of the bill,” he said in an address on Monday.

His statement had initially been expected earlier in the day but was delayed after far-right members of his government reportedly urged him to not back down.

That illustrates the deep divide in Israeli society between supporters of the government, who say the judicial changes are necessary, and growing opposition to his plan, which argues that the moves will weaken the independence of the judiciary and turn Israel into an autocracy. (Full article.)

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