Knesset

Israelis blocked roads and demonstrated on Thursday against a contentious government plan to overhaul the judiciary, hoping to ramp up pressure on lawmakers after parliament reconvened this week following a month-long recess.

Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu won a vote in the Knesset 63-47 giving initial approval to controversial judicial reforms that have prompted street protests with opposition groups saying the changes will give his right wing coalition more power over the appointment of judges.