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.

Israeli media reported on Monday that Finance Minster Bezalel Smotrich would likely also support Netanyahu's decision to pause legislation. However, on Monday afternoon, Smortich called his supporters to action in a statement on Monday, in which he said: 

"Friends, under no circumstances should we stop the judicial reform [which will] strengthen Israeli democracy. We are the majority, We must not give into violence, anarchy...and wild strikes. Let's make our voice heard."

The Histadrut Labor Federation, Israel's primary worker's union, announced on Monday afternoon that, beginning on Tuesday, the Tel Aviv stock exchange would be fully closed.

This follows the announcement on Monday morning that the Histadrut would coordinate a far-reaching labor strike in order to prevent the government's judicial overhaul from being enacted.

Jewish organizations around the world have reacted to the current dramatic situation in Israel regarding the demonstrations against the judicial reforms, as well as the toxic discourse as a result of the political complexity.

The Crif, the umbrella organization of French Jews issued a statement on Monday relating to the political crisis in Israel.

"As the crisis in Israel worsens, Crif reaffirms its absolute commitment to the democratic principles of the State of Israel and its unity." The Crif also called on the Israeli government "to suspend the current reform, [in order] to restore calmness and a dialogue [with the Israeli] society as quickly as possible."

The protest powder keg has exploded, and companies across every sector of the Israeli economy have stepped forward and announced their participation in the nationwide strike over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's dismissal Sunday night of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for his call to freeze the judicial overhaul legislation.

For the first time in Israeli history, both employers and employees alike are uniting in their efforts to strike and protest on a massive scale following

Leading hi-tech companies, banks, supermarket chains, malls and countless other sectors are announcing their participation in the wildfire strike that is rapidly encompassing the entire Israeli economy following the Histadrut’s call for a general strike on Monday morning.

Hi-tech says “That’s enough”

Leading Israeli tech companies including Monday.com, Wix, Natural Intelligence, Lemonade and Fiverr have joined the strike, as well as several VC firms including Pitango and Team8; they are only a few of the dozens of companies that have announced that they will be participating.

“We will never agree to be a non-Jewish and democratic state in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence, and with broad agreement,” said Pitango in a statement.

Turkish Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines announced on Monday afternoon that, due to the situation in Israel, their flights to Tel Aviv would not be taking off at all, according to a report from KAN. 

Right-wing groups including Regavim, Im Tirzu, Ad Kan, Bezalmo and Torat Lehima, announced that they would be holding a counter-protest at 6 p.m. on Monday evening near the High Court of Justice in response to the protest against the judicial reform and the coalition being held in front of the Knesset.

Advertisements for the protest published online stated that the Right is in an "emergency situation," warning that "they will not steal the elections from us."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared the advertisement on Twitter writing "today we stop being silent. Today is the day the Right wakes up. Share it forward."

היום אנחנו מפסיקים לשתוק. היום הימין מתעורר. הפיצו הלאה. pic.twitter.com/okanuudwo0

— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) March 27, 2023

Police have begun preparing at the site amid concerns that the protesters could clash and the situation could escalate to violence.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met  National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Monday afternoon following reports that he was considering leaving the government but not supporting a dispersal of the Knesset. Labor proposes bill to disperse Knesset

"Today something happened in Israel," Ben-Gvir said. "The votes of the pilots are worth more than Golani and the Border Police. The votes from Tzahala are worth more than the votes from Dimona and Beersheba, and the votes of hi-tech workers are worth more than manual laborers. The judicial reform must not be stopped and we cannot surrender to anarchy," Ben-Gvir said.

Members of the coalition, especially Otmza Yehudit and Religious Zionist Party, applied pressure to push through with the legislation.

Israeli embassies worldwide were instructed to join a strike on Monday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan, a workers' union letter seen by Reuters said.

The letter, citing a nationwide strike in Israel declared by the Histadrut labor federation, said Foreign Ministry activities in the country and abroad would be limited to emergency services.