INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN- Israel's parliament has signed off a key part of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial plan to reshape the judiciary,
others, as well as Israeli police, have been injured.Opposition politicians chanted "shame" and stormed out the Knesset, leaving supporters
to approve the change 64 votes to zero.Protests against the judicial overhaul intensified following the ratification of the law, and the
170,000 Israelis participated in the demonstrations, which saw police use skunk water against the protesters for the first time since
massive back-to-back rallies began seven months ago.The protesters cut off major streets and crossroads as thousands gathered in front of
the Knesset as well as Tel Aviv, in addition to demonstrations throughout the entity.Police were seen using water spraying vehicles and
horse mounted units in an attempt to disperse them
"A line was crossed today," Lapid wrote on his social media, "remember, these are your brothers and sisters ..
whose world just collapsed on them ..
don't harm them."Speaking at a protest, the former Shin Bet chief, Nadav Argaman, said that Netanyahu is "captured by the hands of a
coalition that has lost touch with the people." Argaman, who served in his post until 2021, added, "We will fight with all the tools at our
disposal."Israel's former state prosecutor, Moshe Lador, also spoke at a protest and accused Netanyahu of "conducting a ferocious and
harmful struggle against the (entity) that put him on trial - the Netanyahu affair against the (Israeli occupation)."The outcry has seen
repercussions for the Israeli army.Around 10,000 reservists have already said they won't serve because of the measures, forcing the military
chief Herzi Halevi to address the controversy.In a letter to soldiers, he said: "If we will not be a strong and cohesive military, if the
best do not serve, we will no longer be able to exist as an (entity) in the region."On Monday, Halevi also addressed Netanyahu, saying that
"speaking out against reservists who threaten to suspend their duty because of the judicial coup will harm our preparedness and unity",
according to Israeli media, citing sources in the occupation military.After the vote was passed in the Knesset, more Israeli army
saying it will diminish the courts' ability to keep the cabinet's power in check, while petrol stations and shopping centers shut down in
protest.Opponents see the measures as a power grab by Netanyahu, who's on trial on corruption charges, and fear it is setting the regime on
the path to dictatorship.Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party, issued a statement, saying that "direct responsibility lies with the
He chose the political needs of Ben-Gvir and the whims of Levin over the (regime's) standing, security, and society.""We will do everything
minister Yariv Levin called it the "first step in an important historic process" of reshaping the influence of judges, but opposition leader
pacemaker fitted.His resolve to see the changes through has drawn concern from the U.S., a staunch supporter of Israel, with President Joe
Biden cautioning against pushing through laws that are causing so much division."Given the range of threats and challenges confronting (the
entity) right now, it doesn't make sense for Israeli leaders to rush this - the focus should be on pulling people together and finding
consensus," Biden told Axios.The White House said, "It is unfortunate that the vote took place."Among Israel's other allies that have voiced
concern were Germany's Foreign Ministry, which issued a statement expressing that Berlin's "very much regrets that the negotiations between
the Netanyahu's cabinet and the opposition, mediated by President Isaac Herzog, have failed.""In light of our deep ties with (the
occupation) and its people, we view the deepening tensions in Israeli society with great concern," it added.As well as curbing the judges'
power, the plan would also change the way they are selected, which opponents say would pave the path for corruption and improper
appointments.For many of the protesters, the immediate concern was not the bill itself
Rather, they are worried that it would be followed by other, more radical legislation that would remove crucial remaining checks on Israeli
once a formidable force in the region, but it began to erode in its faith, consciousness, self-assurance, and humility until it found itself
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said, "We have a long-standing friendship with the government of (the occupation) that really
A much stronger statement by the Biden administration would be very important for them
forward on judicial reform rather than seeking compromise has sown discord within the Israeli military at a time of elevated threats to the
the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council said they were "deeply disappointed" that efforts to find a
middleground had so far failed.They said: "Now that the first law has passed, we plead with Israeli leaders to return urgently to dialogue
and to prevent the deepening of a constitutional crisis which will do tremendous damage to the very fabric of Israeli society, its regional
security and global status."Former U.S
Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers and a key ally of President Biden said he "mourned" the Israeli vote while urging Americans to heed the
relevant lessons ahead of the 2024 presidential election."It is a reminder of a tragic lesson of history: great nations are brought down
more often by internal decay than external threats
