The leaders of the protests in Israel announced that they will continue to protest despite the speech of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he announced the postponement of the judicial amendments.
The protest leaders said that Netanyahu is maneuvering to delay the amendments in order to pass them later after weakening the popular pressure, stressing that they will not swallow the bait.
On the other hand, the Israeli Trade Union confirmed that it had suspended the general strike announced today.
Violent clashes broke out between the Israeli police and right-wing protesters who refused to suspend judicial reforms.
Israeli media said that the police in Tel Aviv differentiated between supporters and opponents of suspending judicial reforms in Israel.
Israeli opposition leader Benny Gantz called on Netanyahu to keep the defense minister in office, after the opposition parties welcomed Netanyahu’s decision to suspend judicial reforms. Opposition parties said they would work to reach an agreement if the government was sincere.
And former Prime Minister Yair Lapid considered that the opposition needs to make sure that Netanyahu does not practice tricks or deceit, as he put it. He added that if the government engages in a real and fair dialogue, then it is possible to get out of the crisis.
Despite Netanyahu’s decision to postpone the judicial amendments, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said the suspension was temporary. Ben Gvir added, in statements among his supporters, that Netanyahu promised him that the amendments would be passed within a month from now, indicating that by that time there would be no compromises and that the will of the majority would be implemented.
In the context, the office of the Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, announced in a statement that the president spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid, as well as with former Defense Minister Benny Gantz to start negotiations to agree on the judicial amendments.
The statement said that Herzog urged the three to form negotiating teams to begin immediate negotiations under the auspices of his office to reach a broad agreement on the judicial amendments.
Israel’s political scene has been gripped by turmoil over plans proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his new hard-right government to amend the judiciary laws, which have sparked protests at home and concerns among allies abroad.
On January 4, Netanyahu’s new government announced a plan that would allow the Knesset to overturn some Supreme Court rulings and give the government more power to appoint judges.
