Israel in turmoil as parliament to hold first reading of judicial reforms

The Israeli parliament was set to hold a first reading on Monday of judicial reforms promoted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist government, which have sent opponents into the streets in increasingly raucous protests.
Wielding 64 of the Knesset’s 120 seats, Netanyahu looked likely to win eventual ratification for the two bills, one an amendment of a quasi-constitutional “basic law” on the justice system and the other overhauling a selection system for judges.
The political opposition, dominated by centrist and secular parties, have sought to slow the process in often-acrimonious parliamentary review sessions. They have also encouraged the weekly mass-demonstrations that have spread in major cities.