The Economist runs another article on the protests and the judicial reform pause, calling the situation a “stunning reversal of fortune for Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, who returned to office triumphant, after a year and a half in opposition.”

The Mirror runs an explainer piece on the protests and judicial reform.

The Daily Telegraph runs Jewish Chronicle editor Jake Wallis Simpson’s comment piece, “Israel is proving it is still the only democracy in the Middle East”.

The Financial Times writes that “If evidence was needed of the determination of Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government to press ahead with its radical overhaul of Israel’s judiciary, it came hours after he announced the drive would be suspended. The day after the prime minister bowed to a general strike and the biggest wave of protests for more than a decade by announcing a delay to one of the most bitterly contested elements of the drive, his government put forward the legislation in parliament.”

The Guardian prints an opinion piece which says “Even as negotiations between Netanyahu’s side and the parliamentary opposition begin over a compromise plan, the first part of the government’s legislative package, which would give the governing coalition ultimate say in the appointment of judges, sits ready to be passed by a simple majority in the Knesset. The gun is loaded on the table; all Netanyahu would need to do is pull the trigger.” The Economist runs a similar piece, entitled “Israel should not squander the opportunity for meaningful constitutional talks”.

Reuters covers the confusion surrounding whether or not Yoav Gallant’s sacking has been fully implemented or whether he will remain Defence Minister.

The Independent publishes excerpts of an AP interview with Israeli author Yuval Noah Haari, a notable figure in the protests, in Tel Aviv yesterday. “If Netanyahu had retired after two terms in office or after, say, eight years. I think even though I didn’t like many of the things he did, I think he would have retired as one of the great leaders of Israel,” he said. “Now, his legacy is he is the certainly the divider of Israel, the person who divided the Israeli nation against itself. And I hope … we don’t get there. But he could go down in history as the person who destroyed the state of Israel.”

The Financial Times also runs with a story on Netanyahu’s concession to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of the establishment of a national guard under the control of his ministry. Noa Sattath, head of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, told the paper: “You have to see the context: this is part of a plan by Ben-Gvir to have unprecedented political influence over the security services,” she said. “If such a body is to be established, we must be assured that there is oversight over this body by a security professional and not by a political figure.”

The BBC publishes an article on the rise of gun ownership in Israel. Applications for permits rose from 19,000 in 2021 to 42,236 in 2022 in response, says the BBC, to security concerns. Rela Mazali, co-founder of the Israeli anti-gun activist coalition Gun Free Kitchen Tables, says “Rather than privatising personal and human security, what is needed are well trained, quickly responsive, carefully and thoughtfully responsive security forces, who don’t exacerbate the situation – which is often the case here in Israel – but know how to contain and placate situations.”

Reuters covers the indictments of two Israeli settlers for their roles in March 6^th’s riots in Huwara. The two men, both in their 20s, were indicted in Central District Court for grievous bodily harm – with an added terrorism designation – and vandalism. “The two settlers indicted on Thursday were accused of attacking Palestinians parked outside shops, including with an axe and by throwing rocks at them, while shouting ‘Death to Arabs!’.”

Reuters covers the acquittal yesterday of Roman Zdorov, sentenced to life in prison in 2010 for the murder of Israeli schoolgirl Tair Rada, in a trial which gripped Israel.
Yediot Ahronot discusses the rocky start to the President Herzog-hosted negotiations between the coalition and the opposition over a compromise on judicial reform. National Unity MK and opposition negotiator Chili Tropper said “the opposition has a very clear principle: There will be no situation in which the coalition or the government appoints judges. It’s not going to happen; we won’t lend a hand to it. The coalition wants to appoint the judges, but it is encountering an opposition that is saying ‘having the judges appointed only by the government—that is not going to happen. Clearly, there is a gap here.”

Trooper’s remarks drew a harsh reaction from Justice Minister and reform architect Yariv Levin. “These comments are worthy of every condemnation,” Levin said. “It turns out that behind their supposedly ‘stately’ appearance, there is something completely different hiding. Tropper, in coarse language, announces from the outset that as far as the National Unity Party is concerned, we are not talking about serious negotiations but rather presenting a dictates designed to blow apart the talks and set the country on fire. I call on all responsible opposition representatives to come to the negotiating table with a sense of responsibility and true desire to reach an agreement that will honour the massive public that wants real reform to the judiciary.” Trooper and Levin reportedly then held private talks in an effort to encourage greater cooperation moving forward. Talks will resume next week. There is no set time limit for the negotiations, but if no progress is made during Passover, which begins Monday, the coalition is expected to proceed in the Knesset with legislation on the Judicial Selection Committee.

Yediot Ahronot commentator Sidma Kadmon strikes a pessimistic note on the compromise talks. “Not a single person believes that this will end in agreement,” he says. “In a month, in a month and a half, said a senior official, Netanyahu will say that he suspended the reform because of the holidays and that he truly tried to reach understandings but that there was nobody to talk to. The chances are therefore very good that the coalition representatives will not display flexibility but will dribble for time, try to put the protest to sleep and will ultimately return to the original bill, all ready to be passed, and will do so quickly.”

Israel Hayom’s Omer Lahmanovitch, on the other hand, writes: “Israeli society is in a state of to be or not to be. The joint event that has happened here for the past 75 years is suddenly threatened and shaky. There is a real social danger hovering over it. However, this is also a big reason for optimism: Throughout history, Judaism and Zionism have survived on the constant danger that we will simply cease to be. Survival is a necessity, saving the enterprise is the mission. Therefore, the people of Israel cannot afford the possibility that the talks at the President’s Residence will end without achieving anything. Everyone must emerge from this battle on two legs. Battered, but alive, and together.”

Kan Radio reports 20,000 supporters of the judicial reforms protesting in Tel Aviv last night, some carrying signs including “the people chose judicial reform,” “the left-wing minority will not decide” and “Bibi, King of Israel.” The Ayalon Highway was blocked for about two hours, while two demonstrators were arrested on suspicion of disturbing the peace. The police detained for questioning a Netanya resident on suspicion of threatening to attack journalists and demonstrators on social media. Justice Minister Yariv Levin wrote on Facebook that “photos of throngs of dear citizens demonstrating in favour of judicial reform strengthen me and warm my heart.”

Yediot Ahronot details a poll carried out by the Institute for Liberty and Responsibility at Reichman University. The results of the poll, taken prior to Gallant’s dismissal, Sunday’s protests, Monday’s general strike, and the pause of the reforms, included: 71% of general voters and 50% of right-wing voters were not pleased with the government’s performance. 81% of voters were not pleased with the state of law and order in Israel, while 83% of centre-bloc voters, 42% of right-wing voters, and 63% of general voters were not pleased with the way the judicial reforms were being pushed forward.

Today sees the second Friday prayers of Ramadan, and Kan Radio reports that Israeli authorities remain braced for any signs of violence or unrest. More than 2,000 police and Border Police will keep order and ensure freedom of worship, while roads in the Old City area were blocked this morning.

In Haaretz, Yonatan Touval, a senior foreign policy analyst at Mitvim, discusses tensions between Netanyahu and US President Biden over judicial reform. “The U.S.-Israel special relationship is facing a moment of crisis,” he writes. “The mounting unease in various American policy and popular circles about the state of the relationship can be seen as a possible moment of reckoning.”

Maariv’s Tal Lev Ram argues similarly: “In the current government there is almost no hole that could harm relations with the Americans that Israel is not prone to fall into it. It is possible to ignore the signs of the crisis, to emphasize Israel’s ability to deal alone, to send the Americans ‘to mind their own business’, as several ministers in the government have said recently, but it is impossible to ignore the price tag that Israel may pay for internal political-security conduct that may further strengthen the crisis with the Americans.”

Ynet reports on the speculation that a defence attorney involved in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s bribery case has suggested that the case be moved to mediation from the Jerusalem District Court. Criminal mediation would be heard by a single judge without involvement in the case up to now. Their verdict would then be returned to the District Court to receive the agreement of the current panel which has been deliberating Netanyahu’s case.