Is Israel's Netanyahu losing control of judicial overhaul battle?
The coming days will tell whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is controlling the push for the judicial overhaul, or whether is he being controlled by the more extremist elements within his coalition.
Leader of the opposition Yair Lapid said Monday night they will enter into negotiations with the government over the judicial overhaul it is pushing only once it suspends all legislation procedures for the reform.
A similar opinion was expressed during the day also by other leaders of the opposition.
Between 70,000 and 100,000 people demonstrated Monday near the Knesset against the judicial overhaul, fast-tracked through the Knesset by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. It was one of the largest demonstrations in the history of Jerusalem, but despite concern over violence, the event went off without a hitch. However, this does not portend continued calm between the two furious rival camps.
"Dictatorships revert to democracy only in the wake of bloodshed," Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai noted on Monday. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert added even harsher remarks, calling for the protests to “move to the next stage — the stage of war.”
