As Netanyahu pauses judicial reforms, two experts weigh in on Israel’s historic protests

israeli 2023 protests
Protesters in Israel march on the Ayalon Highway, blocking traffic, in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial changes. (Photo by Oren Rozen/Wikimedia Commons)

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The CJN Daily is publishing a special breaking-news podcast due to the momentous events happening on the ground in Israel.

A labour strike called by the Histadrut over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s slate of reforms shut down much of Israel on Monday. That meant Ben Gurion airport, stores, buses, universities and schools were all abruptly closed—along with Israeli embassies and consulates around the world, including in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.

Massive protests were held Sunday and Monday across Israel, including outside the Knesset in Jerusalem, where Netanyahu and his coalition colleagues met and agreed to pause the judicial-reform legislative package immediately to avoid “civil war”.

However, they vowed to push ahead later this spring after the Knesset recesses for Passover, doing little to assuage protesters, who feel the proposed judicial measures undermine Israel’s democracy.

And in the middle of it are two Canadian journalists and analysts based in the Tel Aviv area who haven’t slept in the past 24 hours.

Aron Heller was a correspondent for the Associated Press covering Israeli for 15 years, and now works as a freelance journalist specializing in tech, defence and security. Vivian Bercovici was Canada’s ambassador to Israel from 2014 to 2016, appointed by former prime minister Stephen Harper. She is now the editor-in-chief of a startup news platform, State of Tel Aviv.

Heller and Bercovici each joined early Monday, before Netanyahu’s announcement, with their takes on the political turmoil, security risks and what Canadian Jews in the diaspora should do right now.

What we talked about

  • Read more analysis from Vivian Bercovici on thestateoftelaviv.com
  • Follow Aron Heller’s articles and feature stories on his website
  • Read Lila Sarick’s story in The CJN about the protest Sunday in Toronto by Israeli and Canadian Jews

Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To subscribe to this podcast, please watch this video. Donate to The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt by clicking here.