Despite hours-long delays, on Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still expected to announce he is stopping his judicial overhaul after a general strike was called in the public and much of the private sectors.
The Prime Minister's Office said a statement was expected to be made at 10 am but Netanyahu postponed his address to the nation after the far-right Otzma Yehudit faction in his coalition said they would resign from the government.
Protesters head to Jerusalem for mass rally
(Video: Adir Yanko)
Netanyahu and his aides were said to be formulating a declaration that may also include an offer of compromise legislation.
Despite these threats, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit faction voted in favor of Netanyahu in a no-confidence motion in the Knesset.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a staunch ally of the prime minister and the architect of the legislative push, said he would not resign if the government halts the move in order to prevent a crisis within the ruling Likud Party.
"As a member of the Likud, I will respect any decision. We must all make all efforts to stabilize the government and the coalition," Levin said, hinting to coalition partners that they should not topple Netanyahu's rule.
Meanwhile, members of the opposition questioned the genuineness of the premier's intentions, with Yisrael Beitenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman calling it a "tactical maneuver".
"We went out together, all the members of the faction to encourage the protesters who came from all over the country to the Knesset in Jerusalem," he tweeted.
"Since this morning we have been hearing and seeing messages coming out of Netanyahu's orbit about halting the legislation. This is not a strategic decision, but a tactical maneuver, in order to fan out and pacify the protest."
Netanyahu posted a call to refrain from acts of violence on his social media platforms after far-right activists were reported to arrive at rallies and protests to clash with the prime minister's opponents.
The head of the Federation of Local Authorities, himself a Likud member, Haim Bibas said the regional and local councils would join the general strike announced by the powerful labor union Histadrut and some of the local leaders announced a hunger strike to last until the coalition's legislation is stopped.
"We call on the prime minister to immediately halt his legislative push to overhaul the judiciary and reinstate ousted defense minister [Yoav] Gallant," Bibas said." Netanyahu must reevaluate his course of action and enter immediate dialogue to bring about a broad agreement and preserve the unity of the country."
Meanwhile, some 70,000 demonstrators descended upon the Knesset while protesters in Tel Aviv blocked Ayalon Highway, one of the city's main thoroughfares, and clashed with police.
Protests were also in full swing from north to south in anger over the legislation and the sacking of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after he warned of the risk to Israel's security amid the refusal of many reserve forces volunteers to serve what they deemed a "non-democratic regime."
Gallant also warned of Israel's weakening strategic position amid threats from Iran and its proxies, Palestinian terrorist factions, and the criticism of the international community including Israel's closest ally the United States.
Chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Simcha Rothman, a co-author of the legislation, called on supporters of the government to come out and demonstrate.
First published: 14:17, 03.27.23