Netanyahu suspends judicial reform, protests to rage on

Prime Minister Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday evening that he was temporarily freezing the bill that would alter the makeup of the Judicial Appointments Committee and was willing to give a "real opportunity to real dialogue" over the government's judicial reforms, which have thrown the country into turmoil and unprecedented civil unrest.

The statement came after hours of tense negotiations as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to quit the government if the legislation did not proceed on schedule, and as tens of thousands of judicial reform opponents protested outside the Knesset. Netanyahu ended up ensuring Ben-Gvir's approval after pledging that the cabinet in its coming meeting on Sunday would approve the transfer of Israel's National Guard to Ben-Gvir's ministry.

Netanyahu said that either way, his government would bring a reform that will "return the balance that was lost between the [government] branches," while "safeguarding and even strengthening individual rights."

The prime minister criticized an "extreme" minority amongst the opponents of the reforms, likening them to the mother who is willing to sacrifice her child in the well-known biblical story of Solomon's Trial. Refusal to deploy for reserve duty signals "the end of our country," and those who support this, or who call for anarchy and violence, are willing to tear the country apart, Netanyahu said.

The prime minister added that the country was on a "dangerous path," and that he would not allow it to descend into civil war.

President Isaac Herzog canceled his attendance at an Iftar dinner on Monday following the situation in Israel caused by the judicial reform.

Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to retract his decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, arguing that this was not the time for the replacement of a defense minister.

"We do not need to crash. We do not need to collapse," Lapid said at a press conference ahead of his Yesh Atid party's faction meeting.

"There are solutions. I call on the coalition, let us go to the president's residence, and start a national dialogue at the end of which we will have a constitution based on the Declaration of Independence, and a state in which we all live together with mutual respect," Lapid said.

In response to a question by a reporter, the opposition leader said that he did not trust Netanyahu to hold talks with integrity, and that is why a string, objective mediator like the president was necessary.

Workers' Union Chairman Arnon Bar-David told protestors that he could have stopped the judicial reform, but he failed Israel after announcing a widespread strike on Monday.

There will be no flights leaving Ben-Gurion Airport until further notice as part of widespread strikes announced by the Workers' Union on Monday morning in protest of the judicial reform.

The announcement of grounded flights was made by Israel's Airport Authority Committee Chairman Pinhas Idan.

The strikes are being held in protest of the judicial reform and the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after he called on the government to freeze the legislation of the judicial reform.

As for incoming flights, only flights that are already in the sky will be allowed to land. 

Nationwide strikes in multiple sectors

The strikes are also being held in universities, hospitals and other sectors.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce that he's freezing legislation on the judicial reform in a statement at 10 a.m., according to Kan.

President Isaac Herzog called on the coalition to stop the legislation of the judicial reform on Monday morning after a night of major protests.

"Tonight we saw some very difficult scenes," said "I'm turning to the prime minister, the government and the members of the coalition: The emotions are difficult and painful. Deep anxiety is engulfing the people. The security, the economy, the society - everything is threatened. The eyes of all the people of Israel are turned to you.

"For the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of responsibility, I am calling on you to stop legislation immediately. I turn to all the party leaders in the Knesset, coalition and opposition as one, put the citizens of the nation above all else and behave responsibly and bravely without further delay."

"After a lot of debate, our position is that we must not stop the legislation in any way," said the Religious Zionist party in a statement. "Stopping the legislation is a surrender to violence, anarchy, refusing orders and tyranny of the minority. We were willing to talk, compromise and agree the whole time but not under threat of a revolution on Israeli democracy."

PRESIDENT ISAAC Herzog delivering a speech on the judicial overhaul last month. He presented his compromise plan, the People’s Directive, last week. (credit: HAIM ZACH/GPO)

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also came out against freezing the legislation.

"We mustn't stop the reform in the judicial system, and we mustn't give in to anarchy."

Thousands protested throughout the night

Major protests continued in Tel Aviv throughout Sunday night after Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for calling for the coalition to freeze the legislation.

Protestors demonstrated against the judicial reform outside of the Knesset and Economy Minister Nir Barkat's home early on Monday morning.

Monday was the second day in the "Week of Paralysis" against the reform.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's lawyer Boaz Ben-Zur will stop representing him if the judicial reform passes, Ben-Zur told Netanyahu on Monday morning, according to Walla.

Ben-Zur would no longer represent Netanyahu in his trial.