Earlier in the day protesters posted online videos of
themselves trying to prevent lawmakers from Netanyahu's
coalition leaving for the Knesset. Police said eight people were
arrested for disorderly conduct and traffic rerouted after
demonstrators blocked some roads.
"Demonstrators who talk about democracy are themselves
bringing about the end of democracy when they deny elected
delegates the fundamental right in a democracy - to vote,"
Netanyahu said in a statement.
The government says the reforms are designed to end
overreach into politics by an unrepresentative Supreme Court.
Critics say Netanyahu - who is on trial on graft charges that he
denies - seeks legal changes that will hurt Israel's democratic
checks and balances, foster corruption and bring diplomatic
isolation.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid tweeted that demonstrations
would mount "in the fight for the soul of the nation".
Israel's head of state, President Isaac Herzog, has
repeatedly urged the government and opposition to hold
compromise talks. But while both sides have voiced willingness,
they disagree on terms.
(Writing by Dan Williams; Additional reporting by Steven
Scheer; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Christina Fincher)
(Updates with preliminary vote)
JERUSALEM, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Israel's parliament on
Monday voted to push ahead with a contested overhaul of the
country's judicial system championed by Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu's religious-nationalist government that has sparked
mass protests.
Opposition in parliament vowed to "fight for the soul of the
nation" while tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in the
streets outside trumpeting their objection. Lawmakers argued
late into the night before the proposed changes were approved in
a first reading.
"A great night and a great day," Netanyahu wrote on Twitter
after the preliminary vote.
Wielding 64 of the Knesset's 120 seats, Netanyahu looked
likely to win eventual ratification for the two revisions on the
agenda - one increasing the government's sway in choosing judges
and the other setting limits to the Supreme Court's ability to
strike down legislation.
Polls have found that most Israelis want the reforms slowed
to allow for dialogue with critics - or shelved altogether.
The shekel was 1% weaker versus the dollar. Seeing
instability from the reform feud, many economists, and leaders
from high-tech and banking have warned of investor and capital
flight from Israel. But a key coalition figure brushed this off.
"There is no link between the justice system reforms and any
blow to Israel's economy," said Knesset Finance Committee
chairman Moshe Gafni and head of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah
Judaism party. "Any attempt at linkage is politicised."
Opposition lawmakers protested Gafni's statement, calling
the committee "a circus".
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