Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing mounting criticism for his controversial overhaul of the country’s judiciary system. However, in a recent turn of events, Netanyahu has delayed the planned changes in response to pressure from his coalition partner. This decision has stirred up a heated debate regarding the state of Israeli democracy and the prime minister’s motives. In this article, we’ll delve into the details of the proposed overhaul and examine the reasons behind its delay.
After hours of negotiations and hidden out of sight, Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a pause in the legislation that would allow him to continue in power. He had been under increasing pressure to give up his position, with protests taking place for 13 weeks and growing in numbers. Although the pause in legislation is not what the demonstrators were demanding, it does present an opportunity for dialogue and possible compromise.
It is interesting to note that Netanyahu had to make a deal with far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to secure his support. In return, Ben-Gvir is allowed to set up a National Guard to carry out tasks that the national police have refused to do. This deal shows how Netanyahu is beholden to the far-right in his coalition and the frustrations of Ben-Gvir when trying to order the national police.
The pause is intended to calm the situation down as the country approaches the Passover holiday and 75th anniversary celebrations next month. Yet, the demonstrators are unlikely to see it like this as they are demanding a complete halt to the legislation. Nevertheless, the pause does offer an opportunity for the opposition to negotiate with Netanyahu and his allies, who have previously not budged an inch.
The fight for Israel’s future is far from over, and the demonstrators are unlikely to accept a mere pause in legislation. On the other hand, Netanyahu may be hoping that the demonstrations will lose their momentum and that he can continue in power in a few weeks’ time. However, the longer the protests continue, the greater the likelihood that Netanyahu and his allies will be forced to negotiate with the opposition.
It remains to be seen who will serve in the National Guard and how it will be used. It is possible that the creation of the National Guard will be halted if negotiations with the opposition go well. If not, it is likely that the National Guard will be used to crack down on the protests and the opposition in the coming weeks.
The protests have been driven by a sense of frustration with the corruption of Netanyahu’s government and the handling of the pandemic. The delay in vaccinations and the economic fallout have only added to the anger of the demonstrators, who are demanding change. Whether Netanyahu will be able to weather this storm and continue in power remains to be seen. However, the pause in legislation has offered an opportunity for the opposition to negotiate and potentially secure a better future for Israel.
