Israel protests: PM Netanyahu delays legal reforms after day of strikes

An uneasy calm is returning to Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would delay a key part of controversial plans to overhaul the justice system.

On Monday night he said he would pause the legislation to prevent a "rupture among our people".

However it is unclear what a delay will achieve beyond buying time.

It followed intensified protests after he fired his defence minister, who had spoken against the plans.

In unprecedented events, the country's biggest trade union called a strike, and Israelis watched society close down around them. read more