The Israeli government is determined to proceed with "responsible judicial reforms," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, amid unprecedented nationwide protests against the overhaul plan.
In a televised address, Netanyahu pledged to "restore unity" to avoid "a split in the nation," after months of mass walkouts against his government's planned reforms.
The overhaul of the judiciary would give the hard-right nationalist government decisive sway in picking judges and limit the Supreme Court's power to strike down laws. Critics say it would weaken Israeli democracy and give unchecked powers to any government.
Divisions over the reform program widened Thursday as police fired water cannons at protesters blocking a highway in Tel Aviv.
Demonstrators fear the proposed reforms, which are already moving through parliament, would increase the power of politicians over the courts and are a threat to Israeli democracy.
Israel's allies abroad have also raised concerns about the overhaul.
Lawmakers earlier Thursday approved legislation restricting grounds for declaring a premier unfit for office, a move opposition chief Yair Lapid called "a personal law" to protect Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, which he denies.
Lapid Thursday urged "responsible members" of Netanyahu's Likud party to rebel against the contested overhaul plan, hours after media reports that the defense minister wanted the plans halted.
Earlier, Netanyahu summoned Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for an unscheduled meeting during which Gallant's office said he briefed the prime minister on the effects of the overhaul plan on the army and defense establishment.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv and other cities, according to crowd estimates by Israeli media. Similar-sized crowds have taken to the streets on other occasions during routine protests over the past few months since the proposals were introduced.
Netanyahu said he was determined to advance the reforms but wanted to reach a solution acceptable to both supporters and critics of the proposals.
"We cannot allow any dispute to endanger our collective future," Netanyahu said. "I will do everything to calm the situation and bring cohesion."
He said he wanted to avoid "a split in the nation" after months of protest, including objections from high-level officials.
Last week, President Isaac Herzog, who holds a largely symbolic role, expressed concern over the deepening rift in society and presented a proposed compromise. The government rejected it.
"Anyone who thinks that a genuine civil war, with human lives, is a line that we could never reach, has no idea what he is talking about," Herzog warned.
On Thursday, one demonstrator, Nadav Golander, warned of a "dictatorship" if the government presses forward.
"The people understand... that they will not stop," said Golander, 37.
"Of all the 'days of paralysis'... this is the most important, there are loads of people," he added, referring to the name used by organizers.
Many demonstrators carried Israeli flags and some clashed with officers. Police reported at least 10 arrests in Tel Aviv over alleged public order offenses.
Thousands also rallied in Jerusalem outside Netanyahu's residence, Israeli media said.
Police did not give an estimate of the number of protesters.
Other rallies took place in the northern city of Haifa and southern Beersheba.
The reforms were announced by Justice Minister Yariv Levin in January, days after Netanyahu's government took office, a coalition with ultra-Orthodox Jewish and extreme-right allies which analysts have called the most right-wing in the country's history.
Netanyahu and his allies say the proposed changes are necessary to diminish the powers of the Supreme Court, which they argue has become politicized.
Members of the opposition have refused to negotiate with the coalition, demanding a complete freeze on all legislation related to judicial reform.
In a call Sunday with Netanyahu, U.S. President Joe Biden voiced support for a "compromise" and stressed the importance of "genuine checks and balances," the White House said.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had urged Netanyahu to reconsider Herzog's compromise proposal.
On Monday, the ruling coalition presented an amended version of a key element of its judicial overhaul, ahead of votes planned before parliament goes into recess next week.
Other pieces of legislation part of the reform package would wait until the summer session to enable "real dialogue" with the opposition, coalition parties said in a joint statement.
The new version of a bill to change the way judges are selected would put more lawmakers and members of the judiciary in the judicial appointments panel than the initial text.
Opponents of the package have accused Netanyahu of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgments against him. The prime minister has rejected the accusation.
Lawmakers voted 61 against 47 to approve an amendment to one of Israel's Basic Laws, the country's quasi-constitution, specifying the necessary conditions for temporary removal.
The previous version of the law stated that a premier could be declared incapacitated, but did not specify on what grounds or lay out the necessary steps.
The amended legislation requires a request by the prime minister, or a government vote backed by a three-quarter majority of ministers, and only for mental or physical health reasons.
The law "de facto limits the possibility of declaring a prime minister incapacitated to exercise their functions," said Guy Lurie, a researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute in Jerusalem.
"Reasons other than those specified in the amendment will no longer be admissible," he told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Some opposition figures and civil society groups have argued for Netanyahu to be declared unfit to serve, citing his ongoing trial. He denies the charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
