Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu faces opposition and defeat over judicial reform.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suffered a political setback as members of his coalition rebelled in a vote related to controversial judicial changes. The vote was expected to elect two political representatives to Israel’s nine-member judicial selection committee, but hardliners in Netanyahu’s coalition demanded that both positions be filled by government representatives. Four members of the government used their secret ballots to support the opposition candidate, Karine Elharrar’s, appointment in a 58-56 vote, and a second candidate, Tally Gotliv of Netanyahu’s Likud party, did not get enough votes to cross the threshold for election. The political chaos weakens Netanyahu and has scuppered compromise talks with the opposition.