Increasing Party Pressures on Netanyahu to Suspend Judicial Reforms

Israeli Deputy Yuli Edelstein, who is the head of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset from the Likud party, which is led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, joined Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's call today, Sunday, to suspend proposed amendments to the judicial system that have caused controversy and division, raising the possibility of a reduction in the parliamentary majority held by the government. When asked during an interview whether he would abstain from voting or vote against the bill, he did not answer directly but indicated his absence from Knesset sessions this month. Edelstein told Army Radio, "I need to remind you that I did not attend the first readings of those bills when they did not listen to me in Likud and ignored my call for dialogue." He added, "We do not want to completely abandon the amendments... but bringing them to a vote before it is clear there is support for them would be a risk better avoided."