Netanyahu signals impatience with protests as Israels judicial reform edges ahead

The opposition casts the bill as a step toward curbing judicial independence that would eventually subordinate the Supreme Court to politicians. Netanyahu – who is on trial on graft charges he denies – says the aim is to restore balance among branches of government and rein in court overreach.
The legislation follows the stalling of compromise talks between the government and opposition last month. Street protests that had subsided are flaring anew, with protesters planning to converge on Israel's main airport on Monday.
Raising the stakes, one of Israel's largest shopping-centre chains threatened a one-day shutdown if the Knesset vote passes.
In televised remarks before the cabinet session, Netanyahu said it was "unthinkable" that the government would abridge the right to demonstrate or support any violence against protesters.
But he argued such freedom should not be extended to "violations of the law that harm the basic rights of millions of citizens and are taking place on an almost daily basis," citing as examples the disruptions at Ben Gurion Airport, closures of main roads and the heckling of elected officials by protesters.
Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara – who has been openly criticised by several cabinet ministers – would be called upon "to give an accounting" at Sunday's meeting, Netanyahu said.
Announcing the plan to shut down all 24 of its malls on Tuesday, Big Shopping Centers BIG.TA called the "reasonableness" bill, if it passes first Knesset reading, a "serious step on the way to clearly illegal governmental corruption, and another step on the way to dictatorship".
Last Wednesday, Tel Aviv's outgoing police commander Ami Eshed said he had encountered political intervention by members Netanyahu's cabinet whom he said wanted excessive force used against anti-government protesters.

Netanyahu signals impatience with protests as Israel's judicial reform edges ahead