Gone quiet · last update Jan 1, 2024 / Israel
Netanyahu's judicial overhaul and the mass protests against it
Overview · reviewed October 21, 2026
In 2023, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government pressed a plan to overhaul Israel's legal system and weaken its Supreme Court. Opponents, who said it could lead to more authoritarian government, staged months of mass protests.[1][2] passed the first part of the plan in July 2023, a law stripping the Supreme Court of its power to block government decisions, and in January 2024 the court struck it down.[3][4]
passed the first part of the plan in July 2023, a law stripping the Supreme Court of its power to block government decisions, and in January 2024 the court struck it down.[3][4]
Coverage over time
LeftCenterRight
Weekly counts, outlets and reports (23 weeks with coverage)
| Week of (UTC) | Left | Center | Right | Of tracked | Share | Receipts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2024 | 12 | 15 | 8 | 35 | 15% | |
| Sep 25, 2023 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2% | |
| Sep 18, 2023 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3% | |
| Sep 11, 2023 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 5% | |
| Jul 31, 2023 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 3% | |
| Jul 24, 2023 | 19 | 19 | 10 | 48 | 18% | |
| Jul 17, 2023 | 18 | 27 | 10 | 55 | 21% | |
| Jul 10, 2023 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 16 | 7% | |
| Jul 3, 2023 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 3% | |
| Jun 26, 2023 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3% | |
| Jun 12, 2023 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2% | |
| Apr 10, 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | under 1% | |
| Apr 3, 2023 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | under 1% | |
| Mar 27, 2023 | 30 | 31 | 12 | 73 | 26% | |
| Mar 20, 2023 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 29 | 12% | |
| Mar 13, 2023 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 8% | |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 5% | |
| Feb 27, 2023 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2% | |
| Feb 20, 2023 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 5% | |
| Feb 13, 2023 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 6% | |
| Jan 30, 2023 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3% | |
| Jan 9, 2023 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 6% | |
| Jan 2, 2023 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2% |
Latest coverage
Background
Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv in January 2023 against the new government's plans.[1] Israel's attorney general warned that Netanyahu must stay out of the overhaul, and later told him that he had acted illegally by announcing he would get involved.[5][6] In February, parliament gave initial approval, by a vote of 63 to 47, to a bill giving the government more weight in appointing judges, as protests spread across the country.[7]
Read the full background (3 more paragraphs)
President Joe Biden called Netanyahu to express concern about the plan.[8] In March, Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, a day after Gallant called for a halt to the overhaul.[9] After mass protests and a general strike, Netanyahu paused it for talks.[10] He then rejected what he called "pressure" from the White House in a rare public dispute with Biden.[11]
In June, as compromise talks crumbled, Netanyahu said the government would move ahead,[12] and dozens of air force reservists said they would refuse to report for duty if it did.[13] Protesters blocked highways and train stations in a day of nationwide demonstrations in July,[14] and on July 24 parliament passed the law stripping the Supreme Court of its power to block government decisions.[3]
The Supreme Court then took up the law. It opened its first case on the legality of the overhaul in September,[15] and on January 1, 2024, it struck down the law in an unprecedented move.[4]
Supporting stories (15)
- Thousands of Israelis have attended a protest against the Netanyahu government
- Israelis block highways in nationwide protests of government’s plan to overhaul judiciary
- Israel's top court to review challenges to law that weakens its power, escalating political crisis
- Israel's Supreme Court overturns a key component of Netanyahu's polarizing judicial overhaul
- Israel’s attorney general says Netanyahu cannot be involved in judicial system overhaul
- Netanyahu acted illegally by getting involved in judicial overhaul, says Israel's attorney general
- Israel parliament gives initial approval to judicial reform bill amid protests
- Biden calls Israel's Netanyahu with judicial plan 'concern'
- Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking mass protests
- Netanyahu delays judicial overhaul after mass protests
- Israeli PM, Biden exchange frosty words over legal overhaul
- Netanyahu says Israel will move ahead on contentious judicial overhaul plan after talks crumble
- Israeli Air Force Vets Threaten Not to Serve After Netanyahu Resumes Judicial Overhaul
- Israeli protesters block highways in ‘day of disruption’ against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan
- Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu's contentious judicial overhaul
The full record
December 2023
September 2023
- Israel’s High Court hears challenge to a law that makes it harder to remove Netanyahu from office
- Biden warns Netanyahu about the health of Israel’s democracy and urges compromise on court overhaul
- Former leaders of Israel's security services are speaking out against Netanyahu's policies
- Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu's contentious judicial overhaul
August 2023
July 2023
- Israel's top court to review challenges to law that weakens its power, escalating political crisis
- Israel’s judicial overhaul is ‘unfortunate,’ White House says
- Israel on the Brink
- Israeli parliament takes first major step in Netanyahu's contentious overhaul, deepening divisions
- Netanyahu leaves hospital as Israel faces a key vote — and a crisis — over divisive legal changes
- Israeli president seeks to reassure Congress on his country's democracy, U.S. ties
- Hundreds of thousands march in Israel. Former security chiefs beg Netanyahu to halt legal overhaul
- Israel’s Herzog will meet with Biden as US concerns over settlements and judicial overhaul simmer
- Protesters against Israeli judicial overhaul block roads, army headquarters
- Israeli protesters block highways in ‘day of disruption’ against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan
- Israelis block highways in nationwide protests of government’s plan to overhaul judiciary
- Israelis protest at international airport against judicial overhaul plan
June 2023
April 2023
March 2023
- Israeli PM, Biden exchange frosty words over legal overhaul
- Netanyahu delays judicial overhaul after mass protests
- Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking mass protests
- Israelis protest for 13th straight week against Netanyahu’s now-frozen judicial overhaul
- Israel's Parliament Protects Netanyahu from His Legal Problems
- Netanyahu acted illegally by getting involved in judicial overhaul, says Israel's attorney general
- Biden calls Israel's Netanyahu with judicial plan 'concern'
- Israelis protest for 11th week against judicial reforms
- Israelis step up protests after Netanyahu rejects compromise
- Anti-Netanyahu protesters in Israel block roads to airport in latest nationwide demonstration
- Israelis stage 'day of resistance' against Netanyahu plan
February 2023
- Israelis Protest Legal Overhaul Plans for 9th Week
- Israel's Netanyahu advances judicial changes despite uproar
- Israel parliament gives initial approval to judicial reform bill amid protests
- Thousands march in Israel as Netanyahu allies push overhaul
- Israelis hold mass protest outside parliament against judicial reforms
- Israel’s attorney general says Netanyahu cannot be involved in judicial system overhaul
Coverage & sources
Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.