Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Benjamin Netanyahu) announced today that the legislative process for judicial reform will be suspended following the Israeli government recently promoted controversial judicial reforms that triggered a general strike by the Federation of Trade Unions.
“I have decided to suspend the second and third readings of this bill out of a sense of national responsibility and out of a desire to prevent the division of our people,” Netanyahu told the nation, Agence France-Presse reported.
Netanyahu also said he would defer consideration of the judicial reform bill until the next session of Congress, which will start in the second half of April.
Netanyahu’s reform bill will give the government more powers and reduce the role of the Supreme Court, which not only sparked domestic protests, but also faced doubts from major allies including the United States.
Histadrut head Arnon Bar-David launched a nationwide strike earlier in the day, but he ended the strike following Netanyahu announced that the judicial reform process was suspended.
“Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that the legislation will be suspended, I declare the strike to be over,” Bhadawi said in a statement.
