Israel’s Judicial Reform Protests Hit 15th Weeks

Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against the government’s planned judicial reform. People waved Israeli flags in the streets of Tel Aviv and chanted “democracy” and “shame”, local news outlets reported.
The protests took place in the northern port of Haifa and also outside the home of Justice Minister Yariv Levin in Modiin.
This came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “pause” to allow for dialogue on the reforms which were moving through parliament.
The proposed plan would give Netanyahu and his allies in the government the final say in appointing the nation’s judges. Experts and analysts have warned that the judicial plan will devastate the country’s economy and isolate Israel internationally.
Netanyahu says the judicial reform will strengthen democracy and boost business.
US rating agency Moody’s announced Israel’s rating went from “positive” to “stable”. It said the change “reflects a deterioration of Israel’s governance, as illustrated by the recent events around the government’s proposal for overhauling the country’s judiciary”.