Reuters reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a softening on Monday of his government’s judicial overhaul plan, an apparent concession to more than two months of unprecedented nationwide protests and misgivings voiced by Western allies. Wielding a parliamentary majority, Netanyahu had looked set to ratify the package of reforms by the Knesset’s recess. But most would now be shelved until it reconvenes on 30^th April.

Sky News reports on the anti-reform protests, releasing a video on protesters dressed as Handmaid’s Tale figures, saying: “Women have dressed in crimson robes and white hats during Israel’s anti-government protests because they believe Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies will lead to a dark future”.

Reuters reports that US President Joe Biden on Sunday told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that democratic values were a hallmark of U.S.-Israeli ties and said he supported finding a compromise over a highly contested judicial overhaul. Netanyahu, according to his office, assured Biden that Israel’s democracy was healthy.

The Guardian releases an article saying “the shooting in the head of a motionless Palestinian militant during an Israeli raid on Jenin in which three other people were killed has enraged Palestinians as images of the incident spread across social media. Ahmad Majdalani, a member of the PLO executive committee, condemned the shooting on Thursday of Nidal Hazem, who was face down at the time. “This is a crime in the full sense of the word,” he said. The Israeli army said its raid, the latest on Jenin and its refugee camp in recent months, was “an intelligence-based counter-terrorism activity” and had “neutralised” two suspected militants”.

The BBC reports that “Iran says Saudi Arabia has invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for an official visit – just over a week since the countries agreed to restore diplomatic relations. The invitation is said to have come in a letter from King Salman but has not yet been confirmed by the Saudis. China brokered the thaw, which could reshape the region’s geopolitics. A senior Iranian official, Mohammad Jamshidi, tweeted about the invitation to visit the Saudi capital, Riyadh, saying Mr Raisi had welcomed it and “stressed Iran’s readiness to expand co-operation”.”

Kan News reports that the government has suspended all the legislation underpinning the government’s proposed judicial overhaul until the Knesset’s summer session, except for legislation that would change the composition of the Judges Selection Committee. According to reports, the coalition leaders have endorsed a revised proposal to that legislation, which was first introduced yesterday by Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman. Rothman’s proposal would give the coalition a majority on the Judges Selection Committee, but that majority would be sufficient only for electing the first two Supreme Court justices, after which a supermajority would be required. Since the appointment of a Supreme Court justice will require a majority of six out of 11, this means that the coalition members would have the power to elect the next two Supreme Court justices immediately. Rothman is considering proposing that as of the third appointment, the majority will have to include at least one justice on the committee and one opposition representative. Rothman said, “This answers the fear that the coalition will control the Supreme Court and, on the other hand, makes it possible for the coalition to make two appointments.” Firing a Supreme Court justice would require a majority of nine out of 11.

Yediot Ahronot reports on disquiet inside the Likud this morning. The governments backing down on some of the planned judicial reforms was heavily criticised by Likud members, including MKs Dudi Amsalem, Tally Gotliv and Moshe Saada.  According to the paper a very senior coalition member attacked Rothman for his announcement: “He is acting amateurishly; he is only causing damage and is frightening the public. Now that we finally have a plan that can easily be sold as something that the demonstrators can live with, he presented this offhandedly, with no explanation as to what needs it meets and why.” However Likud David Bitan MK, came out in support for the changes, he told Channel 12 News: “If the doomsday economic prophecies come true, the Likud is done for. There are at least five Likud members who are in favour of stopping the legislation.” Israel Hayom adds that MK Gilad Kariv (Labour) wrote: “Rothman—you’re confused. We aren’t haggling with you over the appointment of judges to the Supreme Court. I don’t know who is advising you—but our intelligence, our values and our consciences are not for sale.”

Channel 12 News reports that President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke on the phone yesterday for the first time in several months. A White House statement reported that they discussed the judicial overhaul currently being legislated in Israel, Israeli-Palestinian tensions and Iran. Netanyahu told Biden that Israel would remain a strong and vibrant democracy.

Ynet reports that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir lashed out at the High Court of Justice Sunday evening after it ruled that while he is allowed to outline policy, he cannot give operational instructions to the police. Ben Gvir criticized the decision by Justice Yitzhak Amit and claimed that it abolishes the executive authority, which he considers to be a “coup”. He further stated that in a democratic country, elected officials have the power to determine police policy during riots, including those “organized by anarchists from the left,” referring to protests against the government’s push to overhaul the judiciary. Ben Gvir added that he intends to amend the Police Ordinance once again to ensure that policies are implemented on the ground.

Maariv reports that the organisers of the resistance to the judicial reform announced that they would hold a National Day of Resistance this Thursday that will be more intense than the previous protests. The central event will be a march in Bnei Brak. Following reports about a compromise plan that is designed to turn Israel into a semi-democracy, the organisers said that they would oppose any initiative that enabled the government to appoint justices to the Supreme Court. “This is the de facto start of a dictatorial regime that appoints judges that are loyal to it and not to the Declaration of Independence and to Israeli law. Destroying democracy is not our path,” they said.

Maariv also reports that along with the pilots’ protest, reservists are also protesting the judicial reforms. Organisers of a group of reservists from Special Operations (450 officers and fighters) and offensive cyber units (200 people) issued a statement saying that “the gun has been pressed closely to democracy’s temple and the trigger is about to be squeezed. Therefore, to our regret, the time has come to put what we announced into action: all our people from the Special Operations unit and another 200 reservists from the offensive cyber units in IDF Intelligence, in the Mossad and in the GSS, without exception, will not report for voluntary reserve duty. We have no contract with a dictator. We will be happy to volunteer when democracy is assured.”