Israeli PM blames ‘extremist minority’ for mass protests as he delays major changes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has blamed the “extremist minority” of protesters opposing his plans to overhaul the nation’s legal system for violent disturbances which have erupted.

Mr Netanyahu, addressing the country after tens of thousands took to the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and several other regions calling for his resignation, accused the dissenters of being “ready to divide our nation”. Nonetheless, the Prime Minister also announced a delay in his plan to overhaul the judiciary, saying he wants time to seek a compromise with his political opponents over the contentious changes.

Mr Netanyahu said he was “not ready to divide the nation in pieces” and would “turn over every stone to find a solution” to the current disdain for his legal overhaul plan.

The growing resistance to Mr Netanyahu's plan was crystallised by the decision to sack his defence minister after he called for a pause to the overhaul.

Speaking late on Monday, he said: “When there’s an opportunity to avoid civil war through dialogue, I, as prime minister, am taking a timeout for dialogue.”

Striking a more conciliatory tone, he said he was determined to pass a judicial reform but called for “an attempt to achieve broad consensus”.

He added: “From a will to prevent the rift in the nation, I have decided to delay the second and third reading in order to reach a broad consensus.

The prime minister added that “most” of his coalition allies supported the move.

The announcement appeared to achieve its desired effect, at least in part, as the labour unions that had initiated strike action in response to the bill called off their plans.

But Israeli state media later reported on Monday night that the protests appeared to be continuing.

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Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated outside parliament and workers launched a nationwide strike in a dramatic escalation of the mass protest movement.

As Mr Netanyahu remained silent, signs emerged that he would soon delay the divisive program.

His national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, announced that the plan was being put on hold for a month, giving time for the rival sides to seek a compromise.

The chaos shut down much of the country and threatened to paralyse the economy. Departing flights from the main international airport were grounded.

Large mall chains and universities closed their doors, and Israel's largest trade union called for its 800,000 members to stop work in health care, transit, banking and other fields.

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Diplomats walked off the job at foreign missions, and local governments were expected to close preschools and cut other services. The main doctors union announced that its members would also strike.

The growing resistance to Mr Netanyahu's plan came hours after tens of thousands of people burst into the streets chanting “the country is on fire,” lighting bonfires on Tel Aviv's main highway, closing the thoroughfare and many others throughout the country for hours.

Demonstrators gathered again on Monday outside the Knesset, or parliament, turning the streets surrounding the building and the Supreme Court into a roiling sea of blue-and-white Israeli flags dotted with rainbow Pride banners.

Large demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Haifa and other cities drew thousands more.

“This is the last chance to stop this move into a dictatorship,” said Matityahu Sperber, 68, who joined a stream of people headed to the protest outside the Knesset. “I’m here for the fight to the end.”