Gantz: We will shake Israel if Netanyahu re-presents the plan to "reform the judiciary"

Benny Gantz, leader of Israel's opposition National Unity Party, threatened Wednesday to shake the country if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resubmits judicial reform bills to the Knesset for approval.

Gantz, a former defense minister, tweeted: "I understand that Netanyahu is drunk in power again, after passing a budget that will explode in the faces of all of us."

Gantz reminded Netanyahu that "it is foolish to repeat the same procedure and expect different results," stressing that "if the coup returns to the table, we will shake the country and stop it," referring to controversial judicial reform bills.

At dawn on Wednesday, the Knesset approved the state budget for the next two years by a majority of 64 deputies to 55 against, allocating tens of millions of dollars to ultra-Orthodox Jews, in a move that angered the opposition.

Netanyahu announced on Monday that the state would allocate 250 million shekels (62.5 million euros) to married Jewish men who pursue religious studies instead of work, along with aid already benefiting the militant group.

Under the law, which was finally passed by the Knesset, Israel's 2023 budget will amount to NIS 484 billion ($132 billion) and NIS 514 billion ($140 billion) for 2024.

Earlier on Wednesday, Netanyahu announced that the judicial reform bills would return after the Knesset approved the state budget on Wednesday morning.

The official Israel Broadcasting Corporation quoted Netanyahu as saying that changes in the judiciary would certainly return to the fore. He added that we are in the midst of dealing with it, and we are trying to reach understandings with the opposition about it.

More than two months ago, Netanyahu announced the suspension of judicial reform bills to allow for understandings with the opposition.

Since then, talks between the opposition and the government coalition have been held under the auspices of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with no agreement in sight.

Israel's opposition says the projects are aimed at weakening the judiciary, especially Israel's Supreme Court, and turning Israel into a dictatorship.

For more than 21 weeks, the Israeli opposition has been staging unprecedented weekly protests across the country to demand a halt to judicial reform bills.