Israel's parliament passed the first of several laws that make up its contentious judicial overhaul as protesters opposing the changes staged another day of demonstrations aimed at raising alarm over what they see as the country's descent toward autocracy.
A protest was planned later in the day in a large ultra-Orthodox city near Tel Aviv. The demonstration's organizers say the demonstration there is meant to drive home to that community that their rights are in danger under the overhaul. Ultra-Orthodox leaders see the demonstration in their midst as provocative.
In addition to Thursday's demonstrations, tens of thousands of people have been showing up for weekly protests each Saturday night for more than two months. But the government was plowing forward on a key part of the overhaul, which would grant the government control over who becomes a judge. The government says it amended the original bill to make the law more inclusive, but opponents rejected the move, saying the change was cosmetic and would maintain the government's grip over the appointment of judges. The measure was expected to pass next week.
The government says the changes are necessary to restore a balance between the executive and judicial branches, which they say has become too interventionist in the way the country is run.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel ratifies law limiting conditions for a possible Netanyahu ousterIsrael ratifies a law limiting the circumstances in which a prime minister can be removed, despite worries voiced by a government jurist that it may be meant to shield the incumbent Netanyahu from any fallout from his corruption trials
Read more »
Israel passes law shielding Netanyahu from being removed amid protests over judicial changes | CNNThe Israeli parliament on Thursday passed a law that would limit the ways a sitting prime minister can be declared unfit for office as part of a package of bills the government is pushing through in its controversial judicial overhaul.
Read more »
Israel ratifies law limiting conditions for a Netanyahu ousterIsrael ratified a law on Thursday limiting the circumstances in which a prime minister can be removed, despite worries voiced by a government jurist that it may be meant to shield the incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu from any fallout from his corruption trials.
Read more »
Pedro Bay deal blocked Pebble before EPA’s veto, but still protects salmon habitatThe Pedro Bay Rivers Project was founded in 2000 with a mission to protect habitat important to the region’s subsistence culture, especially around salmon spawning areas, with effects spanning well beyond the proposed Pebble Mine.
Read more »
Netanyahu seeks to pacify US concerns over settlement repealIsraeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu appears to back down, saying his government has ″no intention” of returning to four abandoned settlements in the occupied West Bank
Read more »
U.S. Dem lawmakers hold 'emotional' meeting with Israeli ambassador over judicial overhaulThe Jewish lawmakers expressed concerns they and their constituents have about Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan.
Read more »