The ongoing protests in Israel over judicial reforms have now prompted a general strike, which has led to the closure of various institutions, including Israeli embassies abroad. The Israeli embassy in the Czech Republic has announced its participation in the strike, which will result in a suspension of all consular services except urgent cases.

The judicial reform in question has caused much controversy in Israel, as it would allow the government coalition to control the appointment of Supreme Court judges and also enable them to overturn judicial rulings with an absolute majority in the parliament. Opponents of the reform argue that this would weaken Israeli democracy, while supporters believe that it is necessary to limit “activist judges.”

The strike has affected many sectors of Israeli society, including flights, banks, and shopping centers. Two major Israeli ports have also been shut down, causing economic disruption. The unions have called on Israeli embassies around the world to join the strike, resulting in embassy closures and suspensions of services in several countries.

The situation has been further complicated by the recent sacking of Defense Minister Yoav Galant, who warned that the judicial reform could threaten the security of the country. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for calm and urged both opponents and supporters of the reforms to refrain from violence.

The protests against the judicial reform have been ongoing for several weeks, with thousands of people demonstrating in front of the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem. Protests have also been held in other towns across Israel.

Article by Prague Forum