Netanyahu Defends Reasonableness Law, Faces Protests Over Judicial Overhaul

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that efforts are still being made to reach broad agreement on a controversial push by his government to cancel the judicial "reasonableness" test for governmental decisions. The bill is set to be voted into law next week, following a fast-tracked process. Opposition figures and protesters have criticized Netanyahu's remarks and called for negotiations on the overhaul. The prime minister defended his government's efforts to overhaul the judiciary, insisting that it will not threaten democracy. He also criticized law enforcement for its handling of the protests against the judicial overhaul. Condemnations of Netanyahu's remarks quickly followed, with opposition leaders accusing him of tearing the country apart and pushing it towards a crisis.