Israel parliament votes on controversial judicial overhaul

OCCUPIED-AL-QUDS: Israel´s parliament began examining a controversial bill on Monday that would limit court powers, in a new political offensive to push ahead with a judicial overhaul that has split the nation.

The changes, proposed by the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have sparked one of the country´s biggest ever protest movements since their announcement in January.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in weekly rallies, demanding a halt to the planned overhaul of Israel´s justice system.

Following stiff opposition and growing international criticism -- including from US President Joe Biden -- Netanyahu ordered a “pause” in March to allow for talks on the proposals.