Union Threatens General Strike as Israeli Government Faces Judicial Reform Crisis

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to pause a set of controversial judicial reforms after the head of Israel's top trade union called for a general strike following weeks of mass protests. The Histadrut labour federation, representing hundreds of thousands of workers, issued the ultimatum amid expectations that Netanyahu would be making an announcement regarding the fate of the overhaul. The move came after massive demonstrations over the weekend that saw tens of thousands of protesters take to the streets after Netanyahu fired his defence minister, who had spoken out against the plans.