Israel: International airport's main departure flights are canceled after a strike call

As a result of a strike called to protest the government's proposed judicial reforms, Israel's Airports Authority said on Monday that departing flights from Tel Aviv, the country's primary international airport, were cancelled.

"I have ordered an immediate stop to takeoffs at the airport," Pinchas Idan, the union's president at Ben Gurion Airport, stated.

The altered flight schedule is anticipated to have an impact on tens of thousands of passengers heading to various locations.

In the midst of continuous demonstrations against the proposed judicial changes, Histadrut, the umbrella body of labor unions in Israel, has called for a countrywide strike.

More than 700,000 employees, including those in the banking, transportation, and health industries, are represented under the umbrella organization Histadrut.

Chairman of the Histadrut Arnon Bar-David said during a broadcast speech, "I am announcing a general strike." "The state of Israel stops as soon as this news conference concludes."

He stated, promising to "continue to battle," "We have a purpose to halt this legislative process and we will accomplish it."

The appeal was quickly answered by the Israel Medical Association, which declared "a general strike in the health system" that would affect all public institutions.

The president recommends a stop to efforts for judicial reform

The contentious judicial changes that have provoked widespread demonstrations around the nation were called for to be put on hold by Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier on Monday.

The measures, which some claim give the prime minister excessive authority at the cost of the independence of the court, were opposed by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who was fired by Netanyahu the day before.

Tens of thousands of incensed Israelis spilled into the streets on Sunday night in response to Gallant's dismissal.

Herzog, whose role is primarily ceremonial, said on Twitter, "I urge on you to suspend the legislative process immediately for the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of duty."

Netanyahu calls a crisis meeting

Ministers from Netanyahu's Likud party showed signs of being willing to halt the overhaul as protests against him grew more vocal. Israel's current administration is the most right-wing ever.

According to The Jerusalem Post, the prime minister called an urgent meeting on Sunday night that was attended by Ministers of Justice Yariv Levin, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, and Minister of Education Yoav Kisch.

The publication said that Dermer and Kisch persuaded the prime minister to halt the measure.

According to reports, Levin threatened to resign and urged the government to stick with the plans.

Netanyahu's close friend and culture minister Micky Zohar indicated the party would support him if he opted to postpone the judicial reform.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a member of the far-right coalition, tweeted on Monday that the government must not "surrender to chaos" in the wake of widespread demonstrations.

Israel's Channel 12 TV reported on Monday morning that Netanyahu would likely make an announcement postponing any additional votes on the legislation later in the day.

Subsequently, it was revealed that Netanyahu would postpone any announcements because of backlash from coalition partners who threatened to leave if the contentious legislation was not implemented.

Netanyahu and his coalition narrowly escaped two Monday no-confidence motions from the opposition, according to Reuters news agency. The votes for the coalition were 59-53 and 60-51, according to the Knesset's president.

Prior to parliamentary voting, protests grow more violent.

The removal of Gallant, according to observers, is a sign that the prime minister and his supporters want to push the law through.

The government must vote this week on a key reform measure that would give the ruling coalition final say over all judicial appointments.

The proposed amendments were made public by the administration in January, along with an allegation that judges had become too intrusive and that they were required to rebalance the executive and judicial departments.

The senior member of Likud, the largest party in Netanyahu's extensive coalition, who spoke against the reforms was the former defense minister. He claimed that the severe divisions were in danger of weakening the armed forces.

On Sunday night, a group of demonstrators marched toward Netanyahu's home, while others in Tel Aviv stopped a major road and set bonfires ablaze.

Many of the demonstrators reportedly used water cannons.

An ongoing crisis over the prime minister's attempt to control the judiciary has been exacerbated by the unrest.