Protest-hit Israel faces general strike
The hard-right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced more protests and a general strike yesterday against its controversial push to overhaul the justice system.
Netanyahu was due to address the nation later yesterday, a day after sacking his defence minister who had broken ranks over the divisive issue, and following President Isaac Herzog urging an immediate stop to the reform push.
Israeli media speculated that Netanyahu may temporarily back down from the reforms, with Justice Minister Yariv Levin saying he will "accept any decision that Prime Minister Netanyahu makes" on the legislation.
Israel's top trade union chief had yesterday called a general strike over the package, which would weaken the powers of the judiciary and which demonstrators have for months decried as a threat to Israel's democracy.
"I am calling a general strike," Histadrut chairman Arnon Bar-David said in a televised address. "We have a mission to stop this legislative process and we will do it," he added, vowing to "continue to fight".
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