Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend the weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, 30 April 2023. EPA / ABIR SULTAN / POOL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend the weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, 30 April 2023. EPA / ABIR SULTAN / POOL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend the weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, 30 April 2023. EPA / ABIR SULTAN / POOL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend the weekly cabinet meeting in the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, 30 April 2023. EPA / ABIR SULTAN / POOL

Netanyahu defends overhaul of Israel's judicial system after mass anti-government rally


Ellie Sennett
  • English
  • Arabic

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on controversial plans to overhaul the judicial system on Sunday, pledging the country would remain a “robust democracy” as a top US leader prepared to visit.

“Israel has been thrown off balance,” Mr Netanyahu argued. “The big challenge is to bring it back to a balance that is accepted in most democracies … without going to the side that would indeed remove checks and balances on the power of the majority.”

Mr Netanyahu spoke on Sunday to CNN's Fareed Zakaria a day after protesters stormed the streets of Israel in opposition to the judicial reform plan.

Thousands rallied in Tel Aviv ahead of Israeli legislators' return for a new parliament session, against the reform plan pushed by Mr Netanyahu's historically right-wing, ultranationalist government. It seeks to weaken the Supreme Court and increase the government's role in selecting its judges.

An Israeli army officer was removed from his post on Sunday for attending a political protest in uniform, the first such case during the political crisis.

Meanwhile, Israel's Haaretz reported that seven hundred elite military reservists signed a letter to Mr Netanyahu saying the reserve system will begin “to collapse” if the proposed reforms pass.

The American-educated prime minister made the appeal as the US House Leader Kevin McCarthy landed in Israel with a bipartisan delegation celebrating the 75th anniversary of the country's establishment.

Washington has historically maintained a strong pro-Israel track record, but the judicial reform has caused friction between the stalwart allies.

More than half of all foreign military aid that US President Joe Biden, a personal friend of Mr Netanyahu, requested for the fiscal year of 2022 was earmarked for Israel, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, a think tank.

Under a 2016 agreement, Washington committed to providing about $4 billion to Israel each year, including $500 million for missile defence.

Last month, after Mr Netanyahu threatened the ousting of a defence minister opposed to the measure, the White House said it was “deeply concerned”.

“We are deeply concerned by today’s developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a March statement.

“Democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the US-Israel relationship,” she added.

  • Protesters at a mass 'Independence party' demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government's judicial reforms, in Tel Aviv on April 25. Reuters
    Protesters at a mass 'Independence party' demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government's judicial reforms, in Tel Aviv on April 25. Reuters
  • The Tel Aviv demonstrators chant and wave flags. Getty
    The Tel Aviv demonstrators chant and wave flags. Getty
  • Protesters at their 75th Israel Independence Day rally. Getty
    Protesters at their 75th Israel Independence Day rally. Getty
  • A Tel Aviv protester lights a flare as he demonstrates against the Israeli government's proposed judicial overhaul. Getty
    A Tel Aviv protester lights a flare as he demonstrates against the Israeli government's proposed judicial overhaul. Getty
  • Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
    Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
  • Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. AP
    Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. AP
  • Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
    Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
  • Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
    Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
  • Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
    Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
  • Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
    Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
  • Demonstrators light flares during the anti-judicial reform protests on Israel's 75th anniversary of statehood in Tel Aviv. AFP
    Demonstrators light flares during the anti-judicial reform protests on Israel's 75th anniversary of statehood in Tel Aviv. AFP
  • Demonstrators chant during a rally in Tel Aviv to protest the Israeli government's judicial overhaul bill, as the country begins celebrations for its 75th anniversary, on April 25, 2023. AFP
    Demonstrators chant during a rally in Tel Aviv to protest the Israeli government's judicial overhaul bill, as the country begins celebrations for its 75th anniversary, on April 25, 2023. AFP
  • Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
    Protesters at the mass 'Independence party' in Tel Aviv. Reuters
  • A demonstrator with a megaphone leads chants at the Tel Aviv protest as the country begins celebrations for its 75th anniversary, on April 25. AFP
    A demonstrator with a megaphone leads chants at the Tel Aviv protest as the country begins celebrations for its 75th anniversary, on April 25. AFP
  • Demonstrators raise a large banner demanding 'democracy'. AFP
    Demonstrators raise a large banner demanding 'democracy'. AFP
  • The 'Independence party' rally in Tel Aviv'. Reuters
    The 'Independence party' rally in Tel Aviv'. Reuters
  • A little protester on her dad's shoulders. AFP
    A little protester on her dad's shoulders. AFP
  • Demonstrators raise Israeli flags near a banner depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. AFP
    Demonstrators raise Israeli flags near a banner depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. AFP
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The Details

Kabir Singh

Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series

Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa

Rating: 2.5/5 

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Team X 1 Team Y 0

Scorers

Red card

Man of the Match

 

Islamophobia definition

A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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Price, base / as tested Dh960,000
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Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

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  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
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Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

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Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
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Price: Dh155,800

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Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

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Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

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Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
  1. Steve Baker
  2. Peter Bone
  3. Ben Bradley
  4. Andrew Bridgen
  5. Maria Caulfield​​​​​​​
  6. Simon Clarke 
  7. Philip Davies
  8. Nadine Dorries​​​​​​​
  9. James Duddridge​​​​​​​
  10. Mark Francois 
  11. Chris Green
  12. Adam Holloway
  13. Andrea Jenkyns
  14. Anne-Marie Morris
  15. Sheryll Murray
  16. Jacob Rees-Mogg
  17. Laurence Robertson
  18. Lee Rowley
  19. Henry Smith
  20. Martin Vickers 
  21. John Whittingdale
Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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Company profile

Company: Rent Your Wardrobe 

Date started: May 2021 

Founder: Mamta Arora 

Based: Dubai 

Sector: Clothes rental subscription 

Stage: Bootstrapped, self-funded 

SNAPSHOT

While Huawei did launch the first smartphone with a 50MP image sensor in its P40 series in 2020, Oppo in 2014 introduced the Find 7, which was capable of taking 50MP images: this was done using a combination of a 13MP sensor and software that resulted in shots seemingly taken from a 50MP camera.

Leading all-time NBA scorers

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Karl Malone 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan 32,292
LeBron James 31,425
Wilt Chamberlain 31,419

UAE cricketers abroad

Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.

Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.

Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.

Updated: April 30, 2023, 8:03 PM