Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister鈥檚 office in Jerusalem, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Netanyahu鈥檚 office says he has been rushed to a hospital but that is in 鈥済ood condition鈥� as he undergoes a medical evaluation. The Israeli leader鈥檚 office said he was being treated on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at Israel鈥檚 Sheba Hospital, near Tel Aviv. (File photo ABIR SULTAN / Pool Photo via AP)
Jerusalem 鈥斅燣ast-ditch efforts to reach a compromise dragged into the night as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to put a key plank of his government鈥檚 controversial judicial reforms to the vote Monday after undergoing surgery to fit a pacemaker.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Jerusalem to oppose Netanyahu鈥檚 proposal to curb the powers of judges, which critics fear will undermine Israel鈥檚 democracy, as lawmakers debated the bill late into Sunday night.
Demonstrators backing the government and its reform plans rallied in Tel Aviv, the epicenter of 29 straight weeks of anti-government protests.
A vote is expected in the Knesset Monday on the draft law which would limit Supreme Court judges鈥� ability to strike down government decisions they deem 鈥渦nreasonable鈥�.
As the crisis looked set to come to a head, President Isaac Herzog returned from a visit to the United States and drove directly to Sheba Medical Center for a meeting with Netanyahu late Sunday.
The premier had been rushed to the hospital near Tel Aviv late on Saturday for surgery to fit the pacemaker.
鈥淭his is a time of emergency. An agreement must be reached,鈥� Herzog said in a statement issued by his office.
Herzog later met with opposition chief Yair Lapid and was also due to confer with another opposition figure, Benny Gantz.
The president鈥檚 office declined to comment on the meetings.
The driving force behind the reforms, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, said the bill being put to lawmakers on Monday had already undergone changes to accommodate critics, but added that the coalition was still open to 鈥渦nderstandings鈥�.
鈥淯nderstandings means the opposition鈥檚 willingness to make concessions too,鈥� he told supporters at the Tel Aviv rally.
鈥楧oing great鈥�
The overnight announcement from Netanyahu鈥檚 office that the 73-year-old was having a pacemaker fitted came days after he had been hospitalized for a reported spell of dizziness.
On Sunday afternoon, Netanyahu issued a video saying he was 鈥渄oing great.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e continuing our efforts to complete the legislation, and the efforts to do it in agreement (with the opposition),鈥� he said, wearing a suit jacket open at the neck.
鈥淓ither way, I want you to know that tomorrow (Monday) morning I鈥檓 joining my friends at parliament,鈥� he said.
The hospital said Netanyahu remained in its cardiology department for observation.
Netanyahu鈥檚 government, which includes far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues that the proposed reforms will prevent overreach by unelected judges and ensure a better balance of power.
Opponents accuse Netanyahu, who has been fighting corruption charges in court, of a conflict of interest and some protesters have labelled him the 鈥渃rime minister鈥�.
鈥淲e have to keep up the pressure, we have to safeguard our democracy,鈥� said one demonstrator, Amir Goldstein, who had spent the night in a protest camp outside parliament.
Right-wing demonstrators backing the Israeli government and its reform plans rally in Tel Aviv, the epicentre of 29 straight weeks of anti-government protests, on July 23, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was 鈥渄oing great鈥� following surgery to fit a pacemaker, as his hard-right government鈥檚 controversial judicial overhaul plan neared a key vote in parliament. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)
鈥榃e can still stop鈥�
Inside the chamber, opposition leader Lapid said: 鈥淲e want to continue to live in a Jewish and a democratic state 鈥� We must stop this legislation.鈥�
The proposed judicial revamp has split the nation and, since its unveiling in January, set off one of the biggest protest movements in Israel鈥檚 history, also sparking concern in Washington and among other allies abroad.
Gantz called for a halt to the legislative process on the bills. 鈥淲e can still stop, come to an agreement on the reasonability clause,鈥� he told the Knesset. 鈥淲e have to stop everything.鈥�
The debate was expected to last into Monday morning, with more than 20 lawmakers scheduled to speak against the bill, according to a list provided by parliament.
If approved, the 鈥渞easonability鈥� clause would be the first major component of the overhaul to become law. Other proposed changes include allowing the government a greater say in the appointment of judges.
The protests, meanwhile, have drawn support from across the political and social spectrum, among secular and religious groups, peace activists and military reservists, blue-collar and tech sector workers.
One protester opposed to the judicial reform package, Shanna Orlik, said she was rallying against what she called a 鈥渕isogynist and far-right government鈥�.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 have a constitution, and the only thing that protects our rights is the Supreme Court, and the government intends to destroy that,鈥� she said.