Live updates: Israel plunges into crisis amid backlash over Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan

A general strike threatened to bring Israel to a standstill on Monday as growing anger over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s courts sparked a nationwide backlash and plunged the government into turmoil.

Israeli universities, labor unions, hospitals, malls and Israel’s national carrier El Al announced a general strike and the international airport suspended outbound flights indefinitely. Even diplomats abroad were ready to join the striking government workers. Thousands of protesters flooded Jerusalem. Amid calls for Netanyahu’s resignation from the entire government, the business community and the opposition, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Netanyahu’s own longtime lawyer, local media reported he would make a public statement Monday morning. .