Natanyahu Set to Halt Judicial Review Amidst Stifling Protests

Barring any last minute glitch, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Natanyahu, is set to announce a hold on his contentious Judicial overhaul over which he sacked his Defense Minister on Sunday.

The said review has also sparked widespread mass protests across major cities in israel

Associated Press, AP, reports that the disclosure was made on Monday by an official of the Likud after President Isaac Herzog urged the Prime Minister to apply the break on the planned legislation. 

More pressure is being piled on Natanyahu to ease off on the review. One of them is the ongoing strike by the Hitadrut umbrella group, representing more than 700,000 workers including health, transit and banking, which could paralyze large parts of Israel's already distressed economy. 

Growing resistance to the plan came to the fore hours after thousands of Israelis gathered spontaneously on the streets across the country in a demonstration of common anger against his sacking of Defense Minister after the latter called for a pause to the overhaul.

The crowds, which chanted, “the country is on fire,” lit bonfires on Tel Aviv's main highway, closed both the throughway and many others throughout the country.

Unconfirmed reports also say Israeli Ambassador to the US, has resigned his position noting that he cannot continue to serve under Nathanyahu given the prevailing contentions over the planned Judicial overhaul. 

Meanwhile, Natanyahu is on trial on corruption charges.