Explaining Israeli Judicial Reform: Menken

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday paused plans for a judicial overhaul until next month amid fears that Israel's worst national crisis in years could fracture his coalition or escalate into violence. Opposition parties said they would work to reach an agreement if the government was sincere. Protestors have flooded Israeli streets for weeks to express their opposition to the proposed plan. It calls for curbing the Supreme Court's powers to rule against the Parliament and the prime minister. It also gives lawmakers more power in appointing judges. Netanyahu says it will restore the balance between the different branches of government while strengthening civil liberties. But critics accuse the prime minister of shielding himself from corruption charges. NTD spoke with Rabbi Yaakov Menken, managing director of the Coalition for Jewish Values, for his analysis of the Israeli judicial reform.