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.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for protestors not to get violent on Monday afternoon in a tweet.

Netanyahu was supposed to make a statement earlier in the morning, but the statement was delayed indefinitely.

Alongside the widespread media coverage around the world surrounding the spontaneous protest that broke out on Sunday night across Israel, the Arab world is also following the events in Israel.

Social media was flooded with happy posts in Arabic because of the photos coming out of Israel as well as expressions of "hope" at seeing Israel seemingly collapse.

One of the most trending hashtags that began to appear among Arab-language users was #Israelfell in Arabic. The hashtag is posted alongside video clips and photos from the protest together with photos of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei.

Other users posted caricatures such as one user who posted a drawing of a map of Israel which showed half filled in with an Israeli flag on fire and half with a Palestinian flag.

فلسطين ستعود قريباً ..

#اسرائيل_سقطت #اسرائيل_تحترق #جيش_فلسطين_الالكتروني🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/qpWxB9LO6P

— فلسطينية (@Palestine496) March 27, 2023

What are users saying about the chaos?

Another user tweeted that "the Jews' shares are crashing dramatically and quickly, which is the best hashtag in the world." 

Twitter app logo is seen in this illustration taken, August 22, 2022 (credit: REUTERS/DADO RUVIC/ILLUSTRATION)

Another tweet read "Israel will collapse itself, it isn't capable of fulfilling the task given to it by the US and the West."

"They are destroying their homes with their own hands," wrote another user. "We ask Allah to bring their end soon."

A hashtag that has also become popular is #Israelisburning written in Arabic.

Lebanese journalist Fatima Fatuni wrote on her Twitter account that an IDF "official" announced that "tonight is the darkest night in the history of Tel Aviv." She attached a photo of protestors on Ayalon Highway on Sunday night.

#اسرائيل_تحترق https://t.co/ylavNVhryA

— haroon@هارون 🇵🇸⁩⁦🇾🇪⁩⁦🇹🇷⁩⁦🇮🇶⁩⁦⁦⁦حساب بديل (@HaroonH33539184) March 27, 2023

At the same time, among the many caricatures shared online is an hourglass with a Star of David crumbling into sand.

Bank Hapoalim announced that all its branches will close at 1 p.m. on Monday as the bank joins the strike.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin said on Monday that he will cooperate with any decision that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes regarding the judicial reform.

"As a member of the Likud, I will respect any decision that Prime Minister Netanyahu makes regarding the judicial reform legislation," he said. "This is because I knew that a situation where anyone does what they want can immediately make the government and the Likud collapse.

"We all have to make the effort to stabilize the government and the coalition. We all have to not make the mistake that was made with the Shamir government."

Former security officials in Israel will speak at a protest at 6 p.m. on Monday and highlight the security risks the reform has caused.

The scheduled speakers are: Former Mossad head Tamir Fardo, former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon, former Military Intelligence Directorate commander Amos Gilad, former deptuty IDF chief of staff Matan Vilnai, former Israel Police chief Moshe Kardi, Former commander in the police Rahel Dolev and former Israeli ambassador to France and Monnaco Daniel Shak.

Protestors blocked Ayalon Highway in their demonstration against the judicial reform on Monday morning.

Nir Barkat urged the government to stand with Benjamin Netanyahu and stop the legislation of the judicial reform.

"I call on all my colleagues in the government, the Likud and the coalition parties," he said. "Stand behind the prime minister and back him up in stopping the legislation. We cannot bring the collapse of the right-wing government with our bare hands. Our power is in our unity.

The Histadrut Labor Federation, Israel’s primary worker’s union, announced on Monday morning that it would coordinate a far-reaching labor strike in order to prevent the government's judicial overhaul from being enacted. The Histadrut will be joined by the nation’s health care providers, according to the Medical Association.

The announcement came the morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who had called for a halt to the legal reform legislation. Netanyahu’s decision sparked massive unrest among the Israeli populace, who took to the streets in historic numbers in order to protest the seemingly dictatorial move.

During a press conference, Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar David announced the strike, stating "I call on the Prime Minister - stop the legislation before it's too late."

“We built the country together, we fought Corona together, we fought together with you to save the State of Israel, for what? We have a mission to stop this wave of legislation. We will win and stop this wave. And we will return the State of Israel to sanity,” he said.

“This is the time for us together to say 'enough',” Bar David continued, adding that the Histadrut under his leadership is “distancing itself from politics and all parties,” and that the protest of the controversial overhaul is not to be considered a polarizing political matter.

Thousands of Israelis gather in Tel Aviv in protest following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, on March 26, 2023. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)

“It is impossible to polarize this nation anymore," he said. "We must return to sanity… We see, and do not believe, where we have come to. Where are we leading our beloved State of Israel, to the abyss?! So before we go to the abyss, today all of us will stop our descent!"

”I didn't want us to come to this confrontation, I tried as much as I could to avoid a strike and shutdown, but it is impossible to stay in the face of this polarization that is tearing Israeli society apart from the inside. Today we are facing historic moments and a historic strike in which the employers and workers in the State of Israel join hands together, closing the State of Israel,” he continued.

Bar David called on Netanyahu to reverse Gallant's firing

Referring to Gallant’s dismissal, Bar David called upon Netanyahu to renege his decision. “The dismissal of the Defense Minister last night turned on a red light for me,” he said. “What are we, a banana republic? What is this? Last night all the red lines were crossed, and I call on the Prime Minister to reconsider the dismissal of the Defense Minister."

In the meantime, the Medical Association announced that it would also shut down the health care system and announced "a full strike in the health care system until the announcement of a clear and serious course of negotiations, on the way to broad agreements. We will not be satisfied with stopping the legislation without more substantial content that will ensure the protection of patients' rights."

The strike will include all public hospitals and all community clinics. The Medical Association will operate an Exceptions Committee as usual and will enable life-saving treatments and services. The strike will stop as soon as a clear and agreed-upon outline for negotiations is formulated that will ensure, among other things, a stable ground for maintaining the rights of patients in the health system.

The strike will include all public hospitals and all community clinics. The Medical Association will operate an Exceptions Committee as usual and will enable life-saving treatments and services. The strike will stop as soon as a clear and agreed-upon outline for negotiations is formulated that will ensure, among other things, a stable ground for maintaining the rights of patients in the health system.

All BIG and Azrieli malls will join the nationwide strike in protest of the judicial reform on Monday.