Israel

JERUSALEM (AP) — Jordan summoned the Israeli ambassador to Amman on Tuesday to protest a move by Israeli police to block the Jordanian envoy from entering a volatile holy site in Jerusalem. The incident quickly escalated tensions between the neighbors and reflected the heightened sensitivity around the sacred compound under Israel’s new ultranationalist government.

JERUSALEM, Jan 15 (NNN-XINHUA) – Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in different Israeli cities last night, to protest the new government’s plan to implement widespread reforms of the judicial system.

Israeli media quoted the police as saying that, over 80,000 protesters held the main protest in Tel Aviv. Smaller demonstrations were also held in other cities, in what was called one of the largest protests in the country in recent years.

JERUSALEM, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Herzi Halevi was sworn in as the new chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in an official ceremony on Monday.

The 23rd commander of the IDF served as deputy chief of staff in his former post. Previously, he was the commander of the Military Intelligence Directorate and commander of the Southern Command.

15 Jan 2023; MEMO: Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Sunday that his country is in the midst of a division that is tearing it apart, Anadolu reports.

Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to protest plans by the new government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to overhaul the legal system.

16 Jan 2023; MEMO: The Israeli opposition has threatened civil disobedience over the right-wing government's plan to bring about fundamental reform of the judicial system.

Nearly 80,000 demonstrators gathered on Saturday night in Tel Aviv's Habima Square to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government and its plans for sweeping changes to the justice system. Demonstrations were also held in Jerusalem and Haifa.

JERUSALEM, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Israel's president warned on Sunday that the country faced a constitutional crisis over a contested plan to rein in the judiciary and said he was mediating between parties.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, now in his sixth term, wants to put controls on the Supreme Court, which members of his religious-nationalist coalition accuse of overreach and elitism.

Proposed legislation would limit High Court rulings against government moves or Knesset parliament laws, while increasing politicians' sway over the selection of judges.

JERUSALEM, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man amid a stabbing attempt in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, Palestinian and Israeli sources said.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that the Palestinian man arrived with a car at a guard post outside Ofra, an Israeli settlement near the city of Ramallah. He hurled stones at the Israeli soldiers at the guard post, ran toward them carrying a knife, and attempted to stab them.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday his government plans to charge ahead with an overhaul of the country’s judicial system, despite fierce criticism from top legal officials and protests against the changes that drew tens of thousands of people.

14 Jan 2023; MEMO: Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has called for Israelis to become involved in street battles to oust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In an article published by Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday, Barak asserted: "This is an elected government. It is legitimate, but its actions and plans revolve around a coup. This makes it illegitimate."

14 Jan 2023; MEMO: Left-wing Israeli activists participated alongside Palestinian activists in raising the Palestinian flag during a demonstration organised on Friday in Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, Anadolu Agency reported.