Israel protests – news: Far-right groups attack Arabs at pro-Netanyahu march

The United States has welcomed the decision by by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay a decision on divisive plans for a judicial overhaul until next month, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Netanyahu on Monday delayed a decision on bitterly contested plans for a judicial overhaul until next month amid fears that the country’s worst national crisis in years could fracture his coalition or escalate into violence.

“We welcome this announcement as an opportunity to create additional time and space for compromise. A compromise is precisely what we have been calling for. And we continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible,” Jean-Pierre said.

The United States remains concerned about the situation in Israel and President Joe Biden has shared his concerns about a proposed judicial overhaul directly with Netanyahu, the White House said on Monday.

“We remain concerned by the recent developments,” White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters, calling for compromise.

Kirby noted that Israel had been invited to a U.S.-organized Summit for Democracy later this week.

Kirby said Biden has been “very forthright” with Netanyahu about his concerns. Asked if Biden was worried that Israel would devolve into civil war, Kirby said he was not.

He said U.S. concerns about the judicial reform legislation were that it would “fly in the face” of the principle of having checks and balances in government.

“All of that concern comes from ... a place of respect and friendship and admiration for the Israeli people, for Israel as a country and for Israel’s democracy,” Kirby said.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Israel evening to protest against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial reforms to the country’s judicial system.

Chanting “the country is on fire”, demonstrators gathered outside Mr Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Sunday evening to demand the draft legislation be withdrawn, only to be dispersed by police water cannons. Bonfires were meanwhile lit along Tel Aviv’s biggest motorway, forcing road closures and causing traffic mayhem.

On Monday, the protests continued, while Israel’s largest union, Histadrut, which represents 700,000 workers across a huge variety of professions, called for an immediate general strike. Universities have closed their doors “until further notice” and flights from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport have been grounded, as pressure grows to halt the legislation.

Joe Sommerlad reports:

At the time of writing, all flights leaving Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion Airport, Israel’s primary aviation hub, have been suspended until further notice due to widespread strikes announced by the Worker’s Union.

Flights that are already in the air will be the only ones permitted to land, it has been reported.

Despite this, passengers continued the check-in process without knowing if their flights would depart.

The live departures board shows flights scheduled to leave later in the day, but these are not expected to go ahead.

A spokesperson for the Worker’s Union said that if Mr Netanyahu stops the judicial reform legislation, flights will return to normal, the Jerusalem Post reports.

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British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly welcomed Israel’s decision to pause legislation to reform its judiciary, as he emphasised the importance of “a robust system of checks and balances.”

“The UK welcomes the decision today by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause legislation to reform Israel’s judiciary,” Cleverly said in a statement after Netanyahu delayed the decision until next month amid widespread protests.

“It is vital that the shared democratic values that underpin that (UK-Israel) relationship are upheld, and a robust system of checks and balances are preserved.”

Israel’s main labour union called off a nationwide strike after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would delay his judicial overhaul plan to the next parliamentary session.

“The strike that I announced this morning will end,” said Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut labour federation, on Monday, praising Netanyahu for the move and offering help in forming a reform with mutual agreement.

Israeli PM Netanyahu decried what he called an “extremist minority ready to divide our nation,” in an address to the nation today.

Mr Netanyahu said he is “not ready to divide the nation in pieces” amid mass protests over a planned judicial overhaul.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he would delay his flagship judicial reform to the next parliamentary session.

“From a will to prevent the rift in the nation, I have decided to delay the second and third reading in order to reach a broad consensus,” he said in a prime time televised address delivered after some of the biggest street protests in the country’s history.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said he will “turn over every stone to find a solution” to the protests over a planned judicial overhaul, in an address to the nation.

Mr Netanyahu is addressing the nation after a day of protests.