National

Tel Aviv

Axios from Tel Aviv

Within three months of returning to the Prime Minister’s Office, Benjamin Netanyahu with his judicial overhaul plan led the country into an unprecedented crisis inside Israel's military, prompted harsh international criticism, and oversaw unrest that destabilized the economy and threatened to tear Israeli society apart. 

Why it matters: Many commentators and members of Netanyahu’s party have expressed shock over how Israel's most experienced and savvy politician made what they see as every possible mistake since returning to office. 

The prime minister's approval rating plunged this week, reflecting how the judicial overhaul could be the very thing that destroys Netanyahu as a politician and unravels his legacy. 

Flashback: Netanyahu barely spoke about the judicial system during the last election campaign, instead focusing on other issues that were more important to his voters, mainly the economy, the price of housing and fighting crime.

When he was elected, Netanyahu said he would focus on improving the economy, countering Iran and bringing more peace deals with Arab countries — first and foremost Saudi Arabia.

But over the last three months, his political agenda was totally taken over by the judicial overhaul, which took his attention away from Iran, led to a sharp decrease in the value of the shekel and created doubts in the Arab world about whether Israel is a reliable partner.

Driving the news: Public opinion polls published on Monday and Tuesday by all four Israeli television channels showed a sharp decline in Netanyahu’s popularity and a dramatic drop in public support for his party.

The four polls suggested that if elections were held today, his coalition would see an unprecedented defeat. 

A separate poll conducted by a right-wing pollster and published by the pro-Netanyahu channel 14 shows the current coalition with only 58 seats — six less than it has today. 

But one poll showed perhaps an even more worrying trend for the prime minister. About 55% of voters in Netanyahu's Likud party believe the prime minister's overall performance was bad. 

58% of Likud voters objected to Netanyahu's decision to fire Gallant, and 60% said the judicial overhaul should be suspended.

Between the lines: The polls underscore what many inside Likud have been saying in private: The judicial overhaul has become a threat to the Likud staying in power.

The big picture: Netanyahu’s decision to suspend the judicial overhaul was a major boost for the opposition and a huge achievement for the civil society organizations that led the protests. 

Israel has seen the revival of the center-left, which just three months ago was devastated after its defeat in the elections.

At the same time, Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz has emerged as one of the biggest winners of the last three months. The former defense minister has taken a moderate line by opposing Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul while also calling for a national dialogue on the issue.

Polls show that many moderate Likud voters are starting to switch their support to Gantz's center-right party. If elections were held today, polling suggests Likud would only win between 25 and 26 seats in the Knesset, down from its current 32. But Gantz's Blue and White party would win between 22-23 seats — up from its current 12. 

Benjamin Netanyahu with his judicial overhaul plan

Judicial overhaul chaos threatens to unravel Bibi's legacy

The prime minister's approval rating plunged this week,

Netanyahu attends a Knesset session on June 13, 2021. Photo: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images

Israel

World

President Biden urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a strong private message to halt his government's judicial overhaul just hours before Netanyahu went on television and announced the suspension of the controversial plan, according to two U.S. sources briefed on the issue.

Why it matters: The White House for months has called on Netanyahu to ensure there was a broad consensus around the plan, but the private message reflects the tensions between the two allies — and just how worried Biden was and how engaged he became in trying to convince the Israeli leader to stop the legislation.

Behind the scenes: Netanyahu’s decision late Sunday to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant alarmed the White House and set in motion a flurry of consultations about possible U.S. reactions, a U.S. official said.

One idea was to cancel Netanyahu's invitation to participate in Biden's virtual "Democracy Summit" this week if the prime minister didn't halt the legislation, a U.S. source said.

The White House decided to issue a public National Security Council statement expressing concerns over the developments in Israel, as well as to deliver a private message directly to Netanyahu from Biden emphasizing that the U.S. president wanted the legislation to be halted, the U.S. sources said. 

According to the sources, Biden's private message was stronger than the administration's public one. It was delivered by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides to the Prime Minister's Office on Monday morning, the sources added. 

An Israeli official said that several hours before Netanyahu gave his public announcement on Monday, the Prime Minister's Office notified Nides that the legislation would be suspended.

“The message the President referenced was the same message you’ve been hearing from us all along. We strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible," White House NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. 

The big picture: The growing tensions between the two allies spilled over into the public on Tuesday, when Biden appeared to confirm the private message, telling reporters the Israeli government "cannot continue down this road."

"I’ve sort of made that clear. … I did not [speak directly with Netanyahu]. I delivered a message through our ambassador," Biden said.

Biden told reporters Tuesday he still hopes Netanyahu "will walk away" from the judicial overhaul. He also made it clear that Netanyahu won't be invited to the White House anytime soon.

Biden’s public remarks, which showed the depth of the crisis between the two allies, created a political shock wave in Israel, with many of the opposition leaders attacking Netanyahu for putting the U.S.-Israeli relationship at risk. 

Netanyahu fired back in an unusual statement released around 1am local time. "Israel is an independent country that takes decisions based on the will of its citizens and not based on external pressure, including from our best friends," he said.

On Wednesday morning, several Likud lawmakers and ministers went to Twitter and on the radio and attacked Biden. One went as far as to say Israel doesn’t need the U.S. for its security.

Yes, but: By Wednesday afternoon in Israel, Netanyahu tried to cool down tensions. His office ordered government ministers and Likud lawmakers to avoid any public statements about the relations with the U.S. other than using the statement he issued.

Two senior Netanyahu aides told Axios the prime minister doesn’t want a crisis with the Biden administration.

One of the aides said Netanyahu wants to reach a consensus on judicial reform that will put the issue behind us. 

The second aide said Netanyahu wanted to calm down and stabilize the situation because he understands the reality and the security threats Israel faces.

Netanyahu continued to play down the crisis during his speech at the Democracy Summit on Wednesday. “Israel and the U.S. have had their occasional differences, but I want to assure you that the alliance between the world’s greatest democracy and a strong democracy in the heart of the Middle East — Israel — is unshakable. Nothing can change that," he said. 

Netanyahu said he announced a “pause” in the legislation of the judicial overhaul to give a chance for getting a broad consensus. “We need to move from protest to agreement," he said.

What they're saying: Dan Shapiro, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel who is now a fellow at the Atlantic Council, told Axios that Biden is Netanyahu’s old friend and a deeply committed ally of Israel, but "he has left no doubt of what is at stake in the judicial overhaul: Israel's security, economy and reputation as a democracy with the checks and balances of an independent judiciary."

"That can damage U.S.-Israel relations, but also U.S. interests," Shapiro said.

He added that this U.S. message likely helped convince Netanyahu to put the legislation on hold.

“But the possibility remains that the negotiations for a consensus reform could fail and the overhaul that guts the Supreme Court could pass at any time. Under those circumstances, a meeting between Netanyahu and Biden, whose presidency is defined by defending democracy, is very difficult to manage," Shapiro said.

Biden's private message to Bibi

The growing tensions between the two allies also spilled over into the public this week.

Biden and Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem in March 2016. Photo: Debbie Hill/AFP via Getty Images

Benjamin Netanyahu

President Biden told reporters on Tuesday that the Israeli government can’t "continue down this road" with its judicial overhaul plan and stressed he is not going to invite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House “in the near term."

Why it matters: It's the first time Biden has spoken about the judicial overhaul, which has rattled Israeli society, on camera. Netanyahu suspended the legislation on Monday after months of mass protests, a strike that affected much of the country, and calls from some of Israel's closest allies, including the U.S., to build a broad consensus around the plan.

Biden's comment on an invitation for Netanyahu to visit the White House underscored how tense relations between the Biden administration and the Israeli government are at the moment.

Biden told the New York Times earlier this year that any fundamental changes in Israel’s judicial system should be based on a consensus to get legitimacy from the public and be sustainable.

He also called Netanyahu earlier this month and expressed concerns over the plan.

What he's saying: “Like many strong supporters of Israel I'm very concerned. I'm concerned that they get this straight. They cannot continue down this road. I've sort of made that clear," Biden said in North Carolina, where he was kicking off his “Investing in America” tour. 

“Hopefully the prime minister will act in a way that he will try to work out some genuine compromise, but that remains to be seen," he added. 

The other side: Netanyahu fired back later on Tuesday, saying "Israel is an independent country that takes decisions based on the will of its citizens and not based on external pressure, including from our best friends."

Netanyahu said in a statement that he has known Biden for 40 years and appreciates his commitment to Israel. 

He added that the U.S.-Israeli alliance is strong and always overcomes the differences that appear from time to time. "My government is committed to strengthening democracy by restoring the balance between the three branches of power, which we want to do through broad consensus,"  Netanyahu said.

Driving the news: Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides told Israeli army radio that the U.S. welcomes Netanyahu’s decision to suspend the legislation but added that the Israeli prime minister could be invited to the White House after Passover.

Later in the day, Nides walked back part of his remarks and said no date was set for such a visit.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said there is no plan for Netanyahu to visit Washington.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with Netanyahu's statement. 

Biden says Netanyahu won't get White House invitation in "near term"

President Biden told reporters that the Israeli government can’t "continue down this road" with its judicial overhaul plan.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said he was delaying his coalition's judicial overhaul legislation after mass protests and a general strike that affected much of the country.

Why it matters: Israel, including its economy, has faced instability and unprecedented political and social unrest since the plan to weaken the country's Supreme Court was announced in January. 

What they're saying: “I am taking a timeout in the legislation of the judicial reform," Netanyahu said late Monday local time. 

"In order to prevent a rift in our people, I have decided to suspend the vote on the second and third reading of the legislation in the current Knesset session, in order to try and reach an understanding on the legislation during the next Knesset session," he added. 

Netanyahu said he wants to avoid a civil war and warned that Israeli society is on a dangerous collision course. 

He also said he is ready to start an immediate dialogue with the opposition in order to reach a broad consensus around the judicial overhaul plan. “We will bring a reform that will restore the balance between the different branches of government while strengthening civil liberties," Netanyahu said.

The other side: Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he is ready to start a dialogue under the auspices of President Isaac Herzog. Lapid said his goal is to reach an agreement for a constitution for Israel. 

Lapid said that if Netanyahu tries any “tricks,” he will find the people who protested in recent weeks standing against him again. But if Netanyahu is genuine, Lapid said, there will be a serious dialogue.

Benny Gantz, former Defense Minister and the leader of the opposition Blue and White party, welcomed Netanyahu’s announcement. “Better late than never," Gantz said.

“Dialogue is the right path. I am ready to arrive at the negotiation at the president’s residence with an open heart in order to reach an understanding and I call on Netanyahu to do the same," Gantz said.

Meanwhile, Herzog said in a statement that suspending the legislation was the right thing to do. 

“It is time to start a candid and serious dialogue that will calm down tensions We need to start talking now at the president’s residence in order to reach a broad consensus," he said.

Catch up quick: Netanyahu shocked Israel on Sunday when he fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who a day earlier called for the legislation's suspension, saying the plan "created an internal rift that poses a clear and immediate threat for Israel's national security."

After Gallant was fired, spontaneous demonstrations erupted across the country.

More than 100,000 Israeli protesters blocked Tel Aviv's main highway for hours Sunday night and thousands more demonstrated in front of Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem and in other cities across the country.

Protests continued into Monday, with about 100,000 people rallying against the government outside the Knesset.

State of play: In a rare move, the head of Israel's workers' union announced on Monday morning a general strike across the country until the legislation was suspended. Such a strike hadn't taken place in decades. 

As a result of the strike, Israel's international airport and kindergartens were shut down and hospitals started dealing only with emergency cases.

After Netanyahu's address later Monday, the unions called off the strike. 

Behind the scenes: Netanyahu held intense discussions with members of his coalition government, aides and family members on Sunday night, Likud officials said. Those meetings continued into Monday.

In a dramatic turn Monday afternoon, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who had threatened to resign, issued a statement stressing that he would respect any decision Netanyahu makes regarding the judicial overhaul. He also said he would work to stabilize the coalition in order to prevent the government from collapsing. Levin's announcement gave Netanyahu important backing for suspending the legislation.

Netanyahu also made a deal with far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who also had threatened to resign if the plan was suspended. As part of the deal, Ben-Gvir agreed to give the government until the end of the next Knesset session at the end of July to pass judicial reform based on a broad consensus, the Jewish Power party said in a statement.

Yes, but: Ben-Gvir said in a separate statement that he and Netanyahu agreed that if no agreement is reached with the opposition during the Knesset recess, the coalition will pass the legislation unilaterally.

Senior members inside the Likud are pressing Netanyahu to cancel his decision to fire Gallant. Netanyahu hasn't sent Gallant a formal letter firing him, which means the 48-hour process of the decision coming into effect hasn't started yet.

Between the lines: Netanyahu and his Likud party took a massive hit in the most recent polling by Israel's Channel 12. 

It showed that if an election was held today, Likud would only get 25 seats in the Knesset, down from its current 32 seats, and the governing coalition would get only 54 seats — 10 less than it has today. 

The opposition, meanwhile, would win 66 seats, according to the poll. 

The big picture: The leaders of some of Israel's closest allies, including President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have in recent weeks expressed concerns about what the plan to weaken Israel's Supreme Court would mean for the country's democracy.

On Monday, the White House's press secretary said the Biden administration welcomed "Netanyahu’s announcement as an opportunity to create additional time and space for compromise."

"Compromise is precisely what we have been calling for, and we continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible," Karine Jean-Pierre said. 

"We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances, and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support," she added. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Bibi suspends judicial overhaul after mass protests across Israel

The overhaul has in the past 3 months led to an unprecedented political and social crisis in Israel, and destabalized its economy.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Ronen Zvulun/AFP via Getty Images

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

The Biden administration is "deeply concerned" after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister on Sunday, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said.

Driving the news: The sacking of Yoav Gallant came a day after he broke with the governing coalition and called on Netanyahu to suspend his judicial overhaul legislation, saying the plan had "created an internal rift that poses a clear and immediate threat for Israel's national security."

Gallant, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, was the most senior minister to publicly call for the suspension of the legislation.

He had warned Netanyahu that moving forward with the judicial overhaul could lead to more protests among IDF reservists and even inside the regular army. Netanyahu has received similar warnings from the chiefs of the IDF and the Shin Bet domestic security agency.

Netanyahu told Gallant on Sunday that he worked behind his back and against the government and the coalition with his speech on Saturday, a senior Netanyahu aide said in a briefing with reporters.

The big picture: The judicial overhaul plan, presented by the most right-wing government in Israel's history, has deepened political divisions in Israel and prompted mass protests, including on Sunday when thousands rallied against the government after Gallant was fired.

The leaders of some of Israel's closest allies, including President Biden, have expressed concerns about what the plan to weaken Israel's Supreme Court would mean for the country's democracy.

What they're saying: "We are deeply concerned by the ongoing developments in Israel, including the potential impact on military readiness raised by Minister Gallant, which further underscores the urgent need for compromise," the White House National Security Council spokesperson said on Sunday.

"As the president recently discussed with ... Netanyahu directly, democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship," the spokesperson added.

"Democratic societies are strengthened by genuine checks and balances, and fundamental changes should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support. We continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible that is based on broad popular support."

What to watch: A vote on the first part of the judicial overhaul plan is expected on Wednesday.

That legislation would give the governing coalition an automatic majority on the panel that appoints Supreme Court judges.

Biden admin "deeply concerned" after Netanyahu sacks defense minister

"Democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister on Sunday, a day after Yoav Gallant called for suspending the government's judicial overhaul plan and warned opposition, including within the military, to the legislation was undermining Israel's national security.

Why it matters: The sacking is likely to further enrage anti-government protesters and escalate the instability the country has faced since Netanyahu's right-wing government unveiled the judicial overhaul plan earlier this year.

No Israeli defense minister has ever been fired three months after a government was formed or after warning that Israel was facing a grave national security threat.

Driving the news: Gallant in a televised speech on Saturday called for the immediate suspension of Netanyahu's judicial overhaul legislation, saying it had "created an internal rift that poses a clear and immediate threat for Israel's national security."

Gallant, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, was the most senior minister to publicly call for the suspension of the legislation. A vote on the first part of the judicial overhaul plan is expected on Wednesday.

Behind the scenes: Netanyahu summoned Gallant for a meeting on Sunday evening and told him that he worked behind his back and against the government and the coalition with his speech on Saturday, a senior Netanyahu aide said in a briefing with reporters.

"The Prime Minister told Gallant that he lost confidence in him. Gallant didn't coordinate his speech with the Prime Minister and sabotaged the efforts to reach a solution," Netanyahu's aide said.

What they're saying: "The security of the state of Israel has always been and will always be my life's mission," Gallant said after being fired. 

A White House National Security Council spokesperson said the Biden administration is "deeply concerned by the ongoing developments in Israel..., which further underscores the urgent need for compromise." 

The big picture: Shortly after Netanyahu sacked Gallant, protests erupted in several cities across the country. 

Thousands blocked the main highway in Tel Aviv, others rallied against the government in Haifi and thousands of protesters demonstrated outside Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem.

Asaf Zamir, Israeli consul general in New York, announced his resignation later Sunday, saying: "I can no longer continue representing this government."

Catch up quick: The judicial overhaul plan, presented by the most right-wing government in Israel's history, has deepened political divisions in Israel and prompted mass protests. 

The leaders of some of Israel's closest allies, including President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have expressed concerns about what the plan to weaken Israel's Supreme Court would mean for the country's democracy.

The first part of the plan that is expected to be voted on next week would give the governing coalition an automatic majority on the panel that appoints Supreme Court judges.

This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates. 

Netanyahu sacks defense minister who called for halt to judicial overhaul

The firing of Yoav Gallant is likely to further enrage anti-government protesters.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Photo: Gil Cohen-MagenAFP via Getty

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called for the immediate suspension of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul legislation, saying it has "created an internal rift that poses a clear and immediate threat for Israel's national security."

Why it matters: Gallant, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, is the most senior minister to publicly call for the suspension of the legislation. A vote on the first part of the judicial overhaul plan is expected on Wednesday. 

Gallant had previously warned Netanyahu that moving forward with the judicial overhaul could lead to more protests among IDF reservists and even inside the regular army, a defense minister aide told Axios. Netanyahu has received similar warnings from the chiefs of the IDF and the Shin Bet domestic security agency.

Catch up quick: The judicial overhaul plan, presented by the most right-wing government in Israel's history, has deepened political divisions in Israel and prompted mass protests, including on Saturday. 

What he's saying: Gallant said in a televised speech that his conversations with soldiers and senior officers in the military had convinced him there was “a clear and immediate danger to the security" of Israel. "I will not allow this to happen," he said.

“The events that are happening in Israeli society don’t stay outside of the military, Gallant added. "I heard anger, pain and disappointment from everywhere — more than I have ever witnessed. I saw how our source of power was waning."

The defense minister said he supports judicial reform but stressed that such fundamental changes must be made through an inclusive national dialogue.

He called for the legislation to be suspended until after Israel's Independence Day on April 25. "We also need to stop the demonstrations and reach out for a dialogue," Gallant said.

Behind the scenes: Gallant had wanted to give his speech on Thursday but backed down at the last minute after an urgent meeting with Netanyahu.

During the meeting, Gallant warned Netanyahu about what moving forward with the legislation may mean for the military, according to one of Gallant's aides. 

The prime minister asked Gallant to give him more time to find a solution, the aide said. But shortly after their meeting, the prime minister doubled down on his intention to hold the final vote on the first part of the judicial plan within days. 

Gallant's aides said on Friday that he was frustrated with Netanyahu's address and decided to proceed with his own speech on Saturday.

Between the lines: As defense minister, Gallant speaks on behalf of Israel's highly influential and widely respected security establishment.

It would be very hard for any prime minister in Israel to go against the position of his defense minister and the security establishment.

The big picture: The opposition, as well as three members of Netanyahu's Likud party, welcomed Gallant’s speech. 

But the coalition whip and several other Likud lawmakers attacked Gallant and called for him to resign. 

Netanyahu, who spent the weekend in London, has not to commented on Gallant’s speech.

What to watch: If a vote on the first part of the judicial overhaul takes place on Wednesday and Gallant and the three Likud members who welcomed his speech oppose the legislation, Netanyahu's coalition will be unable to reach the required majority to pass it. 

Israeli defense minister calls on Bibi to stop judicial overhaul legislation

Yoav Gallant said the plan "created an internal rift that poses a clear and immediate threat for Israel's national security."

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday that he is concerned about the Israeli government’s plan to weaken the country's Supreme Court and other democratic institutions, according to two sources with knowledge of the meeting.

Why it matters: Sunak’s criticism, while mostly conveyed in private, adds to the growing international pressure Netanyahu is facing over his judicial overhaul plan and the anxiety among Israel’s key allies over its potential consequences for the country's democracy.

The big picture: Sunak is the fourth world leader to raise the issue directly with Netanyahu, after French President Emmanuel Macron several weeks ago, German Chancellor Scholz last week, and President Biden last Sunday.

Driving the news: Netanyahu arrived in London on Friday amid mass protests across Israel against the judicial overhaul and unprecedented warnings from the leaders of the military and security services about its implications.

Hundreds of Israelis and members of the British Jewish community demonstrated outside 10 Downing street against the judicial overhaul and raised signs calling Netanyahu a dictator.

Shortly before the meeting, the British Prime Minister’s office canceled the press statements both leaders were expected to give at the top of the meeting.

Behind the scenes: According to the two sources, Sunak was the one who raised the issue during the meeting. An Israeli official said the issue was only discussed briefly “for less than a minute to check the box," but the two sources said the conversation was longer.

Sunak told Netanyahu he is concerned about the negative implications of the legislation being discussed in Israel because the U.K.-Israel relationship is based on shared democratic values, the two sources said.

According to one of the sources, Sunak pointed to the U.K. backing of Israel at the UN, stressing such support is based on Israel being a liberal democracy.

What they're saying: A spokesperson for 10 Downing street said Sunak “stressed in his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including the proposed judicial reforms in Israel."

State of play: A day before Netanyahu arrived in the U.K., he gave a speech to the nation and doubled down on his intention to push for a final vote on parts of the judicial overhaul as early as next week.

In the speech, Netanyahu said will get personally involved in the judicial overhaul regardless of the conflict of interests agreement he signed that bars him from dealing with the judicial reform because he is standing trial.

Shortly after Netanyahu landed in London, the constitutional crisis in Israel officially erupted when the Israeli attorney general sent a letter to Netanyahu that stressed the speech violated the conflict of interests agreement.

The attorney general wrote the speech broke the law and stressed that any action he takes on the judicial reform from now on will be illegal.

U.K. PM tells Bibi he's concerned about plan to weaken Israel's Supreme Court

Sunak is the fourth world leader to raise the issue directly with Netanyahu.

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Thursday that he will not suspend his judicial overhaul plan, despite mass nationwide demonstrations and unprecedented warnings from the leaders of the military and security services who say protests among reservists could impact the IDF's operational preparedness and capabilities. 

Why it matters: Netanyahu's speech signals he has no intention of accepting any compromise on the key elements of the plan and that he is totally aligned with the most extremist ministers in his government. He said one of those key elements — a law that will give his coalition an automatic majority on the panel that appoints Supreme Court judges — will be put to a vote in the Knesset next week.

Driving the news: Netanyahu gave his speech at the end of the most dramatic day of protests and political infighting since Justice Minister Yariv Levin presented the plan in early January.

Tens of thousands of Israelis on Thursday rallied across the country against the government and the overhaul plan. Protesters blocked some of Israel's main highways for several hours. 

Israeli media reported Thursday evening that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was preparing to give a dramatic statement during the primetime news hour to call on Netanyahu to immediately suspend the legislation in order to stop protests among IDF reservists. 

Netanyahu then announced that he was giving a speech of his own and summoned Gallant for an urgent meeting to try and reassure him and convince him to cancel his planned statement.

Behind the scenes: Gallant warned Netanyahu in their meeting that moving forward with the judicial overhaul could lead to more protests among IDF reservists and even inside the regular army, an aide to the minister of defense told Axios.

The meeting with Gallant came after Netanyahu received similar warnings from the IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, as well the director of the Shin Bet domestic security agency.

What they're saying: Despite forging ahead with the plan, Netanyahu did show some empathy toward protesters and those who are concerned about the negative consequences of the legislation. 

“We have to do all we can to protect our country from external threats and from an unrepairable internal rift," he said. "Those who oppose the reform are not traitors and those who are in favor of it are not fascists."

Netanyahu said he wants to promote a reform that will restore the balance between the different branches of power but will protect civil liberties. “We didn’t come to run over anybody. We came to fix and balance," he said.

Netanyahu said he wants a dialogue with the opposition and is attentive to the concerns of those who oppose his plan. 

“In all democracies including the U.S. elected officials pick the judges. Is the U.S. not a democracy? If this reform passes it will not be the end of democracy, it will be a strengthening of democracy," Netanyahu argued.

Yes, but: Netanyahu’s comparison to the U.S. ignored the significant differences in the systems of government between the two countries and the fact that the U.S. has more checks and balances than Israel.

Catch up quick: According to the coalition plan, six of the 11 members on the committee that appoints judges to the Supreme Court will be from the ruling coalition, giving the government full control over the process.

The coalition will be able to appoint the next two Supreme Court judges and the new president of the high court by a simple majority in the committee, the plan states.

If implemented, it will be the first time since the committee was formed in 1953 that Supreme Court judges will be appointed by only politicians from the governing coalition.

Between the lines: Netanyahu is pushing the legislation through while standing trial for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing.

If the government fully controls the appointment of Supreme Court judges, Netanyahu will be able to influence the formation of the panel that could discuss his appeal.

Netanyahu doubles down on judicial overhaul plan

His speech came at the end of the most dramatic day of protests and political infighting since the plan was revealed in January.

All Israel stories