Israel's government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is facing widespread protests and opposition over its plan to overhaul the country's judiciary. Critics accuse Netanyahu of using a "salami tactics" approach, slicing up the legislation to make it more acceptable to the public. Large-scale protests have taken place, with some protesters brandishing giant plastic salamis.

The government argues that the changes are necessary to give more power to elected officials and curb the influence of unelected Supreme Court judges. However, after protests in March brought parts of the country to a standstill, Netanyahu may be looking for ways to proceed more slowly. The Parliament recently took a step to maintain the existing format of the committee that selects judges, but government representatives want new legislation to reconstitute the panel and give them an automatic majority.

Netanyahu's approach of making piecemeal changes to the judiciary is seen as an attempt to appease his hard-line coalition partners while making the reforms more palatable to critics. The stakes are high for Netanyahu and the country as a whole. Shelving the judicial overhaul plan could result in a collapse of the government and political instability. However, pressing ahead without broad public consensus could strain Israel's relations with the Biden administration and have economic consequences.

Israel's central bank governor, Amir Yaron, has warned that the uncertainty created by the proposed changes could have notable economic costs. Israel's president, Isaac Herzog, has also expressed concerns about the potential consequences. The Parliament recently voted in favor of legislation advancing the judicial overhaul plan, setting off another wave of protests. The bill would bar Israeli courts from using the legal standard of “reasonableness” to strike down government decisions, removing a key tool of judicial oversight.

While some legal experts argue for curtailing the court's use of reasonableness, critics fear that the change would undermine the court's ability to prevent government overreach and could be used to protect Netanyahu from his own corruption trial. The government's other plans to overhaul the judiciary, such as giving Parliament the power to override Supreme Court decisions, remain on the agenda despite Netanyahu's previous statement that he had abandoned them.

The opposition parties in Parliament are outnumbered and unable to vote down the judicial legislation on their own. However, the opposition has gained support from various sectors of Israeli society, including military reserves, high-tech industry leaders, academia, and trade unions. These power players have joined forces to oppose the government's plans and have previously succeeded in pressuring Netanyahu to pause the overhaul.

Mass demonstrations and disruptions, including blocking roads and access to infrastructure, are expected to continue. Overall, the proposed judicial overhaul in Israel has sparked significant controversy and opposition. The government's intention to limit the Supreme Court's oversight powers and give more control to elected officials has raised concerns about the erosion of democracy and the concentration of power. The ongoing protests and opposition from various sectors of society highlight the deep divisions and challenges faced by the Israeli government.