News Desk
JERUSALEM: Israel’s parliament on Monday voted to push ahead with a contested plan backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government to overhaul the country’s legal system, sparking mass protests.
Opposition in parliament pledged to “fight for the soul of the nation” while tens of thousands of Israelis gathered outside the streets, trumpeting their objection. Lawmakers argued till late night before the proposed changes were approved in a first reading.
“A great night and a great day,” the Israeli PM wrote on Twitter after the preliminary vote.
Having 64 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, Netanyahu likely won eventual ratification for the two revisions on the agenda – increasing the government’s sway in choosing judges and limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to strike down legislation.
Israelis seeking slow-paced reforms: polls
Polls depict that most Israelis want the reforms slowed to set up a dialogue with critics – or shelved altogether.
The local currency was 1 percent weaker versus the dollar. Seeing instability from the reform feud, several economists and leaders from high-tech and banking have warned of investor and capital flight from the country.
