"Israelis Rally for Judicial Overhaul, Highlighting Political Divide"

A mass right-wing protest in support of the government's plan to weaken judicial checks on political power highlights the deepening divide between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his justice minister and longtime confidant, Yariv Levin. Netanyahu's decision to pause the reform legislation until the next Knesset session to allow time for dialogue with the opposition is seemingly weighing a different tack. Meanwhile, Levin is determined to push his judicial agenda, especially seizing political control over judicial appointments. The protest was a call aimed at Netanyahu himself, issued by the more hardline flank of his own coalition.