Netanyahu cancels appearance at Jewish conference due to planned protests.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled his scheduled address at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly in Tel Aviv due to planned protests over the government's paused judicial reform program. The organizers of the conference thanked Netanyahu for his message of friendship and acknowledged the important role North American Jewry has played in building and developing the State of Israel. President Isaac Herzog will speak instead. The JFNA decided not to boycott the prime minister as demanded by obscure and unnamed groups. Herzog expressed optimism regarding the negotiations taking place under his auspices over the reform initiative, saying they are being held amid a "positive atmosphere."