Israel

24 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israel's Attorney-General, on Friday accused Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, of breaking the law by ignoring a conflict of interest over his ongoing trial for corruption and getting directly involved in his government's judicial overhaul plan, Reuters reports.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday vowed to “mend the rift” in a nation deeply divided over his proposed overhaul of the country’s judiciary. But he offered no details on how he intends to do so and gave no indication that he would slow down the plan.

23 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israel's Defence chief will call on Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to halt his disputed judicial overhaul, Israeli media reported, in a move that could herald a split in the right-wing government as nationwide protests ramped up on Thursday, Reuters reports.

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets, intensifying a months-long campaign decrying the proposed overhaul. Police trying to clear a highway in Tel Aviv fired a water cannon and carried some protesters away.

23 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israel's prime minister will be departing for a planned visit to the UK hours after originally planned, due to continuing protests against his government's judicial overhaul plans, local reports said on Thursday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to visit London late Thursday, but his departure was delayed until 4.00 am (0200GMT), according to Amichai Stein, a journalist with public broadcaster, KAN.

23 Mar 2023; MEMO: Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Thursday, intensifying a months-long campaign decrying the proposed overhaul that would curb some Supreme Court powers and tighten political control over the appointment of judges, Reuters reported.

In Tel Aviv, thousands of protesters raised Israeli flags and marched through the city, stopping traffic in the middle of the working day, while a small group set tires on fire in front of a seaport, blocking traffic for a brief period.

23 Mar 2023; MEMO: The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has approved a law which will grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from prosecution on criminal charges. The Basic Law: The Government passed its second and third readings, and will prevent a sitting prime minister from being dismissed from office and declared to be unable to fulfil his or her duties.

22 Mar 2023; MEMO: Christians could face one year prison sentence for encouraging conversion to their faith, according to a new controversial legislation being introduced in Israel. The legislation which is being proposed by ultra-Orthodox members of Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition would also proscribe Christians from engaging in religious discussion with Jews.

23 Mar 2023; MEMO: After condemnation from the US, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government backed down from a plan to return to four abandoned illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, news agencies reported yesterday.

22 Mar 2023; MEMO: An Israeli drone fell in Syria, on Wednesday, during routine activity, the Israeli military said, according to a report by Reuters.

A military statement said there had been no breach of information and the incident was under investigation. It did not provide further details.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s parliament on Thursday passed the first of several laws that make up its contentious judicial overhaul as protesters opposing the changes staged another day of demonstrations aimed at ringing an alarm over what they see as the country’s descent toward autocracy.