Government Pushes Ahead With Controversial Bills, Police Cracks Down On Tel Aviv Protests

Israeli police used stun grenades and water cannons to disperse demonstrators who blocked a Tel Aviv highway, as the country's extreme-right National Security Minister Ben Gvir vowed to crack down on "anarchists" using "all available means," after crowds took to the streets to protest against the government's controversial overhaul of the judiciary.

• Prime Minister Netanyahu backed Ben Gvir and noted that the authorities "will not tolerate violence against police, blocking roads and blatant breaches of the country's laws," while accusing opposition leader Yair Lapid of fomenting anarchy.
• A number of opposition lawmakers have left the Knesset to join the protesters while the ruling coalition was pushing bills being part of the wider judicial overhaul, which the Justice Minister said would be completed before parliament goes on recess on April 2.
• The Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee voted in favour of two bills restricting the Supreme Court's ability to override laws. The Committee decision now needs to go through three readings in the Knesset before being put to a plenary vote.
• Separately, parliament gave its preliminary approval to bills legalising capital punishment for terrorists and restricting the Attorney-General's ability to deem the Prime Minister unfit for office. Both bills will now be discussed at committee level.
• For reference, a summary of the Israeli legislative process is available here.