The embassy of Israel in India has joined the strike called by the Histadrut, Israel's largest labour union, in protest against the controversial push by the hardline right government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to overhaul the justice system. The embassy announced that it will remain closed until further notice and no consular services will be provided. Israeli missions around the world will remain on strike until the protest is called off, reported news agency ANI.
The move comes after chief of Histadrut Arnon Bar-David called a general strike over the package that could weaken the powers of the judiciary. The proposed reforms have been criticized by demonstrators as a threat to Israel's democracy. The strike has affected flights at Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv, and the Israel Medical Association has announced a full strike in the health system that will impact all public hospitals, reported news agency AFP.
With the White House expressing concern over the protests, Israeli President Isaac Herzog has urged an immediate stop to the reform push.
The plan to hand more control to politicians and diminish the role of the Supreme Court has ignited months of protests. The proposal to grant more control to political leaders and reduce the role of the Supreme Court sparked protests that have been going on for a few months now.
The Israel government, a coalition between Netanyahu's Likud party and its extreme-right and ultra-orthodox allies, has argued that the proposed changes are required to rebalance the allocation of power between lawmakers and the judiciary. However, critics fear the move will give politicians more power to interfere with legal proceedings and undermine the independence of the judiciary, the AFP report stated.
The strike has caused widespread disruption, but the protesters are determined to continue the fight to stop the legislative process. Bar-David has has vowed to "continue to fight" until the reforms are halted. The Israeli embassy in India is just one of many diplomatic missions around the world that have joined the strike. The nationwide walkout was called following demonstrations in Tel Aviv overnight, as Israelis showed their opposition to the proposed reforms.