[IsraelTimes] 200,000 rally in Tel Aviv ahead of planned ’week of paralysis,’ with coalition set to pass law to take control of judicial appointments; 44 held, water cannon used to clear highwayHundreds of thousands of Israelis took part in nationwide rallies Saturday evening for the 12th straight week of mass protests against the government’s radical plans to overhaul the judicial system, ahead of the expected passage next week of a core part of the shakeup.
As the protests were held, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant gave a televised address in which he called for the coalition to halt the legislative push until after Passover and several holidays next month to allow for talks on judicial reform, while stressing his support for making changes to the judiciary and calling for the protests to immediately stop. Coalition sources said the legislation would go ahead as planned.