Israeli PM postpones adoption of judicial overhaul until summer

A powerful partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government says the country’s proposed judicial overhaul has been delayed for at least several weeks, Report informs referring to Los Angeles Times.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir says he agreed to a delay in the legislation until parliament reconvenes for its summer session April 30. He said the break would give time for the government to seek a compromise with the political opposition.

In a statement, Ben-Gvir said if a deal is not reached, the package would be approved in parliament’s summer session. Ben-Gvir has been a leading proponent of the overhaul.

The proposal to give the government sweeping control over the judicial system, which critics call a power grab by Netanyahu that undermines Israel’s democratic norms, has sparked one of the gravest domestic crises in recent Israeli history.

Workers from a range of sectors in Israel walked out Monday, threatening to paralyze the economy as they joined the surging protest movement against the proposed overhaul. Departing flights from the country’s main international airport were grounded, diplomats walked off the job at foreign missions, and large mall chains and universities shut their doors. Local governments were expected to close the preschools they run and cut other services, and the main doctors union announced that its members would also walk off the job.