Netanyahu's judicial overhaul and the mass protests against it

Gone quiet · last story Jan 1, 2024

In 2023, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government pressed a plan to overhaul Israel's legal system and weaken its Supreme Court, setting off months of mass protests by opponents who said it could lead to more authoritarian government.[1][2] Parliament 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]

What this arc covers

The Netanyahu government's 2023 plan to curb the power of Israel's courts and the mass protest movement against it: the weekly demonstrations, the road and airport blockades and the reservists' threats to stop serving, the attorney general's warnings, the votes in parliament, Netanyahu's March 2023 pause of the plan after mass protests over his move to fire his defense minister and his later revival of it, the July 2023 law limiting the Supreme Court's review of government decisions, the Biden administration's concerns, and the Supreme Court's January 2024 ruling striking down that law.

Earliest story we hold Jan 7, 2023 · 42 stories · 162 independent sources (counted once each) · 359 days

Part ofIsraelBenjamin NetanyahuJoe BidenTel AvivPalestineUnited States CongressYoav GallantGermany

Background

Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv in January 2023 against the new government's plans,[1] and Israel's attorney general warned that Netanyahu must stay out of the overhaul, later telling 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] President Joe Biden called Netanyahu to express concern about the plan.[8] In March, Netanyahu fired his defense minister a day after the minister called for a halt to the overhaul,[9] and 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 court 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)
  1. Thousands of Israelis have attended a protest against the Netanyahu government
  2. Israelis block highways in nationwide protests of government’s plan to overhaul judiciary
  3. Israel's top court to review challenges to law that weakens its power, escalating political crisis
  4. Israel's Supreme Court overturns a key component of Netanyahu's polarizing judicial overhaul
  5. Israel’s attorney general says Netanyahu cannot be involved in judicial system overhaul
  6. Netanyahu acted illegally by getting involved in judicial overhaul, says Israel's attorney general
  7. Israel parliament gives initial approval to judicial reform bill amid protests
  8. Biden calls Israel's Netanyahu with judicial plan 'concern'
  9. Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking mass protests
  10. Netanyahu delays judicial overhaul after mass protests
  11. Israeli PM, Biden exchange frosty words over legal overhaul
  12. Netanyahu says Israel will move ahead on contentious judicial overhaul plan after talks crumble
  13. Israeli Air Force Vets Threaten Not to Serve After Netanyahu Resumes Judicial Overhaul
  14. Israeli protesters block highways in ‘day of disruption’ against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan
  15. Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu's contentious judicial overhaul

Overview updated Oct 8, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Jan 1– 22024Israel's Supreme Court overturns a key component of Netanyahu's polarizing judicial overhaul51 articles · 40 independent sources
7 left, 11 center, 5 right
Sep 27– 282023Israel’s High Court hears challenge to a law that makes it harder to remove Netanyahu from office5 articles · 5 independent sources
0 left, 3 center, 1 right
Sep 202023Biden warns Netanyahu about the health of Israel’s democracy and urges compromise on court overhaul6 articles · 6 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 0 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Mar 26 – 27, 2023Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking mass protests37 articles · 20 independent sources
  2. Mar 27 – 29, 2023Netanyahu delays judicial overhaul after mass protests126 articles · 64 independent sources
    1. Mar 28, 2023Israel tensions ease as Netanyahu pauses judicial overhaul
    2. Mar 29, 2023Only center coverage:Key issues in crisis talks on Israel's divisive judicial reforms
  3. Mar 27 – 29, 2023Israeli PM, Biden exchange frosty words over legal overhaul30 articles · 23 independent sources
  4. Jul 8 – 11, 2023Israelis block highways in nationwide protests of government’s plan to overhaul judiciary32 articles · 24 independent sources
    1. Jul 8, 2023Only center coverage:Israel protesters mobilise ahead of judicial reform vote
    2. Jul 9, 2023Protests across Israel ahead of vote on judicial overhaul bill vote
    3. Jul 11, 2023Israelis block highways in protest of government's plan to overhaul the judiciary
  5. Jul 23 – 24, 2023Netanyahu leaves hospital as Israel faces a key vote — and a crisis — over divisive legal changes111 articles · 49 independent sources
    1. Jul 23, 2023Israel's Netanyahu gets a heart pacemaker while his judicial overhaul plan moves forward
    2. Jul 24, 2023Netanyahu leaves hospital as Israel faces a key vote - and a crisis - over divisive legal changes
  6. Jul 23 – 25, 2023Israeli parliament takes first major step in Netanyahu's contentious overhaul, deepening divisions68 articles · 38 independent sources
  7. Jan 1 – 2, 2024Israel's Supreme Court overturns a key component of Netanyahu's polarizing judicial overhaul51 articles · 40 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jan 2023Mar 2023May 2023Aug 2023Oct 2023Jan 2024

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jan 2, 20230306
Jan 9, 202317117
Jan 30, 20231316
Feb 13, 202333012
Feb 20, 202315114
Feb 27, 20231306
Mar 6, 202324012
Mar 13, 202335125
Mar 20, 2023610454
Mar 27, 202322279170
Apr 3, 20230101
Apr 10, 20230101
Jun 12, 20234107
Jun 26, 202312012
Jul 3, 202323211
Jul 10, 202368119
Jul 17, 202314309167
Jul 24, 20231715688
Jul 31, 20233108
Sep 11, 202333215
Sep 18, 20231206
Sep 25, 20230315
Jan 1, 2024711548

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

31% left · 57% center · 12% right of 162 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 42 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. January 2023

    Jan 7– 8Thousands of Israelis protest new government's policies8 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  2. Jan 14– 15Thousands of Israelis have attended a protest against the Netanyahu government20 articles · 15 independent sources
    1 left, 7 center, 1 right

  3. February 2023

    Feb 2Israel’s attorney general says Netanyahu cannot be involved in judicial system overhaul8 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 1 right
  4. Feb 13Israelis hold mass protest outside parliament against judicial reforms7 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  5. Feb 13Thousands march in Israel as Netanyahu allies push overhaul8 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  6. Feb 17– 21Israel parliament gives initial approval to judicial reform bill amid protests10 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  7. Feb 20– 21Israel's Netanyahu advances judicial changes despite uproar11 articles · 9 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  8. March 2023

    Mar 1– 5Israelis Protest Legal Overhaul Plans for 9th Week8 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  9. Mar 9Israelis stage 'day of resistance' against Netanyahu plan6 articles · 6 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  10. Mar 9Anti-Netanyahu protesters in Israel block roads to airport in latest nationwide demonstration5 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 0 right
  11. Mar 12– 16Israelis step up protests after Netanyahu rejects compromise14 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  12. Mar 18Israelis protest for 11th week against judicial reforms7 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  13. Mar 19– 20Biden calls Israel's Netanyahu with judicial plan 'concern'30 articles · 16 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 1 right
  14. Mar 20– 24Netanyahu acted illegally by getting involved in judicial overhaul, says Israel's attorney general11 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right
  15. Mar 23Israel's Parliament Protects Netanyahu from His Legal Problems10 articles · 4 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right
  16. Mar 25– Apr 1Israelis protest for 13th straight week against Netanyahu’s now-frozen judicial overhaul28 articles · 17 independent sources
    4 left, 8 center, 1 right
  17. Mar 26– 27Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking mass protests37 articles · 20 independent sources
    5 left, 4 center, 4 right
  18. Mar 27– 29Israeli PM, Biden exchange frosty words over legal overhaul30 articles · 23 independent sources
    3 left, 6 center, 2 right
  19. Mar 27– 29Netanyahu delays judicial overhaul after mass protests126 articles · 64 independent sources
    18 left, 18 center, 8 right

  20. April 2023

    Apr 3Netanyahu’s office claims security tensions delaying Gallant firing5 articles · 3 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  21. Apr 10Netanyahu reverses decision to fire Israel defence minister after mass protests5 articles · 4 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right

  22. June 2023

    Jun 18Netanyahu says Israel will move ahead on contentious judicial overhaul plan after talks crumble7 articles · 7 independent sources
    4 left, 1 center, 0 right
  23. Jun 28Israeli Air Force Vets Threaten Not to Serve After Netanyahu Resumes Judicial Overhaul12 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 0 right

  24. July 2023

    Jul 3Israelis protest at international airport against judicial overhaul plan5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 2 right
  25. Jul 8– 11Israelis block highways in nationwide protests of government’s plan to overhaul judiciary32 articles · 24 independent sources
    7 left, 9 center, 1 right
  26. Jul 16– 18Protesters against Israeli judicial overhaul block roads, army headquarters8 articles · 2 independent sources
    0 left, 1 center, 0 right
  27. Jul 16– 18Israeli protesters block highways in ‘day of disruption’ against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan20 articles · 16 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 2 right
  28. Jul 17– 18Israel’s Herzog will meet with Biden as US concerns over settlements and judicial overhaul simmer26 articles · 21 independent sources
    2 left, 9 center, 2 right
  29. Jul 19Israeli president seeks to reassure Congress on his country's democracy, U.S. ties25 articles · 20 independent sources
    5 left, 3 center, 1 right
  30. Jul 19– 22Hundreds of thousands march in Israel. Former security chiefs beg Netanyahu to halt legal overhaul19 articles · 18 independent sources
    3 left, 4 center, 0 right
  31. Jul 23– 24Netanyahu leaves hospital as Israel faces a key vote — and a crisis — over divisive legal changes111 articles · 49 independent sources
    9 left, 15 center, 5 right
  32. Jul 23– 25Israeli parliament takes first major step in Netanyahu's contentious overhaul, deepening divisions68 articles · 38 independent sources
    11 left, 10 center, 5 right
  33. Jul 24– 26Israel's top court to review challenges to law that weakens its power, escalating political crisis13 articles · 10 independent sources
    4 left, 4 center, 1 right
  34. Jul 24– 25Israel on the Brink6 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  35. Jul 24Israel’s judicial overhaul is ‘unfortunate,’ White House says5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 0 right

  36. August 2023

    Aug 3Israeli protesters are calling for democracy. But what about the occupation of Palestinians?5 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 0 right
  37. Aug 3Israel’s Supreme Court hears case against a law protecting Netanyahu from being removed from office7 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 0 center, 0 right

  38. September 2023

    Sep 11– 12Israeli Supreme Court hears first challenge to Netanyahu's contentious judicial overhaul10 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 2 right
  39. Sep 13Former leaders of Israel's security services are speaking out against Netanyahu's policies5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right
  41. Sep 27– 28Israel’s High Court hears challenge to a law that makes it harder to remove Netanyahu from office5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right

  42. January 2024

    Jan 1– 2Israel's Supreme Court overturns a key component of Netanyahu's polarizing judicial overhaul51 articles · 40 independent sources
    7 left, 11 center, 5 right