Chaotic night in Israel as thousands block major roads. Dramatic scenes triggered by enactment of first judicial reform bill. State Party Chairman Benny Gantz promises to roll back the legislation while Opposition Leader Yair Lapid says, "This government can win the battle, but not the war."
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the architect of the plan, says parliament has taken the “first step in an important historic process” of overhauling the judiciary.
Efforts to find a last-ditch compromise are still underway, with President Isaac Herzog shuttling between the sides.
The prime minister underwent a procedure for the implantation of a cardiac pacemaker.
With the country ensnared in its worst domestic crisis in decades, President Isaac Herzog meets Netanyahu in the hospital treating him in hope of closing a deal with less than 24 hours to go before final passage of kay part of the judicial overhaul.
Thousands demonstrate in capital after marching for days on main highway from Tel Aviv, many more protest across the country. Some 10,000 reservists from a variety of units announce they would no longer volunteer for reserve duty if asked, adding to the 1,000 or so reserve troops from the Israeli Air Force who sent a similar letter on Friday.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responded to Friday's letter in a tweet, saying that "refusing service was dangerous for the country".
"I truly hope these efforts will succeed but even if they don't, the Coalition's door to the Opposition will remain open always," Netanyahu says in live address. Following speech, throngs of protesters descend on Ayalon Highway and clash with police for hours.
The video, which was shared by some government officials, depicts a fictional war in which Israeli pilots refuse to provide air support to ground forces because the troops support judicial reform.
State Party leader Gantz says Opposition would be willing to find common ground on "reasonableness standard" bill if Netanyahu agrees to halt other parts of reform and return to reconciliation talks.