Israel in ‘heart of crisis’ as PM Benjamin Netanyahu delays controversial judiciary overhaul

Published

2 years ago

March 27, 2023

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Israel is in the “heart of a crisis”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted, as he delays a controversial overhaul of the judiciary.

Addressing the nation following widespread protests involving hundreds of thousands of people, Mr Netanyahu said he would “turn over every stone” to find a solution.

“From a will to prevent the rift in the nation, I have decided to delay the second and third reading (of the bill) in order to reach a broad consensus,” he said.

He also warned, however, that Israel is “at a dangerous crossroads”.

Israel’s main labour union called off a national stoppage shortly after his address. “The strike that I announced this morning will end,” said Arnon Bar-David, chairman of the Histadrut labour federation.

He also offered his help in seeking a compromise.

Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, said that stopping the legislation was the right thing to do and the broadest possible agreement was required.

Former deputy prime minister Benny Gantz said he would approach dialogue with an “open heart”.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly welcomed the decision to pause the legislation and said it was “vital that the shared democratic values that underpin that (UK-Israel) relationship are upheld”.

Earlier, Mr Netanyahu’s coalition partners revealed a delay had been agreed.

The potential overhaul, which has sparked widespread protests and international condemnation, will not now be discussed in parliament until next month, said coalition member party Jewish Power.

The idea is to “pass the reform through dialogue”, the party said in a statement.

Its leader, security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, said he had agreed to delay the government’s plans in exchange for a promise that they would be brought back after the forthcoming parliamentary recess.

“I agreed to remove the veto to reject the legislation in exchange for a commitment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the legislation would be submitted to the Knesset for approval in the next session,” Mr Ben-Gvir said.

Under the proposals, ministers would have more control over the appointments of judges, including to the Supreme Court, while diminishing that body’s ability to veto legislation or rule against the government.

But Mr Netanyahu’s sacking of his defence minister, Yoav Gallant, for objecting to the reforms sparked huge demonstrations in major towns.

It prompted Mr Herzog – a head of state who is supposed to remain above politics – to call on Mr Netanyahu to stop the legislative process, saying: “Come to your senses!”

Mr Herzog said the “eyes of the whole world are on you” following the PM’s dismissal of Mr Gallant on Sunday.

All flights were grounded at Ben Gurion Airport, the country’s main international hub, after the head of the Israel Airports Authority workers’ committee announced a strike.

Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi, the Israeli army’s chief of staff, said this period of time is “different to any that we have known before”.

He added: “We have not known such days of external threats coalescing, while a storm is brewing at home.”

A pause – not a halt

After hours hidden out of sight and in emergency negotiations with his coalition partners, Benjamin Netanyahu eventually bowed to the inevitable.

As the sun was going down on an extraordinary day in Israel, news emerged that a deal had been struck.

The party of Itamar Ben-Gvir said he would agree to a pause in legislation.

A pause. Not a halt.

Essentially, this is intended to take the steam out of the protests as the country approaches the Passover holiday and the 75th anniversary celebrations next month.

But I don’t think the demonstrators will see it like that.

They will read it as: “We won’t pass the legislation this week, we’ll let things cool down and do it in a few weeks’ time.”

They won’t like that, and they won’t accept it.

The pause does open up a window for dialogue and possible compromise, though. Throughout the growing protests, the opposition has remained united and insisted that the legislation must be halted before they start negotiations.

That opportunity is now.

In return for his support, Mr Netanyahu has reportedly allowed Mr Ben-Gvir, the far-right security minister, to set up a National Guard.

This is interesting for a number of reasons: it again shows us just how beholden Mr Netanyahu is to the far-right in his coalition.

It is also an example of Mr Ben-Gvir’s frustrations that the national police don’t do what he tries to order them to do.

Plus: Who will serve in the National Guard?

This is a victory, of sorts, for the protestors. For 13 weeks, as they’ve taken to the streets in growing numbers, Mr Netanyahu and his allies haven’t budged an inch.

Today, with the walls closing in on them, they were left with no options.

But the fight for Israel’s future is far from over.

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Trump’s USAID cuts could lead to 14 million deaths, report warns

Published

9 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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Trump's USAID cuts could lead to 14 million deaths, report warns

Around 14 million people could die across the world over the next five years because of cuts to the US Agency for International Development (USAID), researchers have warned.

Children under five are expected to make up around a third (4.5 million) of the mortalities, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal.

Estimates showed that “unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030”.

“Beyond causing millions of avoidable deaths – particularly among the most vulnerable – these cuts risk reversing decades of progress in health and socioeconomic development in LMICs [low and middle-income countries],” the report said.

USAID programmes have prevented the deaths of more than 91 million people, around a third of them among children, the study suggests.

The agency’s work has been linked to a 65% fall in deaths from HIV/AIDS, or 25.5 million people.

Eight million deaths from malaria, more than half the total, around 11 million from diarrheal diseases and nearly five million from tuberculosis (TB), have also been prevented.

USAID has been vital in improving global health, “especially in LMICs, particularly African nations,” according to the report.

Established in 1961, the agency was tasked with providing humanitarian assistance and helping economic growth in developing countries, especially those deemed strategic to Washington.

But the Trump administration has made little secret of its antipathy towards the agency, which became an early victim of cuts carried out by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) – formerly led by Elon Musk – in what the US government said was part of a broader plan to remove wasteful spending.

In March, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said more than 80% of USAID schemes had been closed following a six-week review, leaving around 1,000 active.

The US is the world’s largest humanitarian aid donor, providing around $61bn (£44bn) in foreign assistance last year, according to government data, or at least 38% of the total, and USAID is the world’s leading donor for humanitarian and development aid, the report said.

Between 2017 and 2020, the agency responded to more than 240 natural disasters and crises worldwide – and in 2016 it sent food assistance to more than 53 million people across 47 countries.

The study assessed all-age and all-cause mortality rates in 133 countries and territories, including all those classified as low and middle-income, supported by USAID from 2001 to 2021.

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Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended amid outrage over leaked phone call

Published

12 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra suspended amid outrage over leaked phone call

Thailand’s prime minister has been suspended after a leaked phone call with a senior Cambodian politician caused outrage.

An ethics investigation into Paetongtarn Shinawatra is under way and she could end up being dismissed.

The country’s constitutional court took up a petition from 36 senators, who claimed dishonesty and a breach of ethical standards, and voted 7 to 2 to suspend her.

The prime minister’s call with Cambodia’s former leader, Hun Sen, sparked public protests after she tried to appease him and criticised a Thai army commander – a taboo move in a country where the military is extremely influential.

Ms Shinawatra was trying to defuse mounting tensions at the border – which in May resulted in the death of one Cambodian soldier.

Thousands of conservative, nationalist protesters held a demo in Bangkok on Saturday to urge her to step down.

Her party is clinging on to power after another group withdrew from their alliance a few weeks ago over the phone call. Calls for a no-confidence vote are likely.

Deputy prime minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit will take over temporarily while the court looks into the case.

The 38-year-old prime minister – Thailand‘s youngest ever leader – has 15 days to respond to the probe. She has apologised and said her approach in the call was a negotiating tactic.

The popularity of her government has slumped recently, with an opinion poll showing an approval rating of 9.2%, down from 30.9% in March.

Ms Shinawatra comes from a wealthy dynasty synonymous with Thai politics.

Her father Thaksin Shinawatra – a former Manchester City owner – and aunt Yingluck Shinawatra served as prime minister before her – in the early to mid 2000s – and their time in office also ended ignominiously amid corruption charges and military coups.

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Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Donald Trump next week amid calls for Gaza ceasefire

Published

18 hours ago

July 1, 2025

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Benjamin Netanyahu to meet Donald Trump next week amid calls for Gaza ceasefire

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be meeting Donald Trump next Monday, according to US officials.

The visit on 7 July comes after Mr Trump suggested it was possible a ceasefire in Gaza could be reached within a week.

On Sunday, he wrote on social media: “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”

At least 60 people killed across Gaza on Monday, in what turned out to be some of the heaviest attacks in weeks.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, 56,500 people have been killed in the 20-month war.

The visit by Mr Netanyahu to Washington has not been formally announced and the officials who said it would be going ahead spoke on condition of anonymity.

An Israeli official in Washington also confirmed the meeting next Monday.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was in constant communication with the Israeli government.

She said Mr Trump viewed ending the war in Gaza and returning remaining hostages held by Hamas as a top priority.

The war in Gaza broke out in retaliation for Hamas’ 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw a further 250 taken hostage.

An eight-week ceasefire was reached in the final days of Joe Biden’s US presidency, but Israel resumed the war in March after trying to get Hamas to accept new terms on next steps.

Talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled over whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire.