Israel's Judicial Overhaul Plans Delayed Amid Massive Protests and Political Turmoil

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced a delay to his controversial plans to weaken the judiciary, including allowing a simple majority in the Knesset to overturn Supreme Court rulings, after widespread strikes and protests. The delay will last until after the Knesset’s Passover recess in April. Netanyahu insisted that the overhaul was necessary, but the sustained protests drew global attention and rocked the country. The political crisis deepened on Sunday when Netanyahu’s office announced the firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in a one-line statement, after he became the first member of the cabinet to call for a pause to the controversial plans.