Israel's Knesset on Thursday finally approved a law that makes it difficult to remove the prime minister, amid fears it may be aimed at protecting incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from any consequences of his trial on corruption charges.

In a statement, the Knesset said the bill passed the second and third readings by 61 votes to 47.

The draft law stipulates that the prime minister will be deemed unable to carry out his job and will therefore be forced to step down, if deputies declare or three-quarters of government ministers decide to do so for health or psychological reasons.

The revised definition of "disqualification" for leaders is one of the legislative provisions put forward by the ruling coalition of religious and nationalist parties, which has caused a crisis inside Israel, and which the opposition sees as putting the independence of the judiciary at risk.

The opposition says the law is aimed at protecting Netanyahu, who is on trial in three cases of bribery, breach of trust and fraud, and has accused him of working through a so-called "judicial reform" plan to try to influence the trial.

Netanyahu faces charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud, which are being heard by the District Court.

Only the Supreme Court, Israel's highest judicial authority, can convict Netanyahu and sentence him to prison. But under the new law, the Supreme Court is barred from removing him.

Attorney General Gali Beharav-Mayara, appointed by the previous centrist government, said last month that Netanyahu should distance himself from the ruling coalition's efforts on judicial amendments because she sees a conflict of interest over his trials.


Ongoing protests

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Israelis renewed their protests against the judicial amendments today. Opponents of the government's decisions have been staging protests every Thursday and Saturday for more than 11 weeks, including marches and street closures.

The police announced – in a statement – the arrest of 4 demonstrators in different areas, on charges of disturbing public order, and the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that dozens demonstrated in front of the house of the head of the Shas party Aryeh Deri in West Jerusalem, as part of the activities of the protest movement against the plan for judicial changes.

"Protesters blocked traffic at the Begin junction in Tel Aviv and roads in the city of Kfar Saba, central Israel. Demonstrators set tyres on fire at the entrance to the port of Ashdod, blocking the entrance to the southern port."

For more than 11 weeks, Israel has been witnessing widespread protests against the government's decision to pass a series of laws that would limit the power of the Supreme Court.

The ruling coalition says the amendments are aimed at controlling the Supreme Court's abuse of powers and rebalancing the governing circles. But the opposition says it is a "coup" against the judiciary and turns Israel into a dictatorship.