Daily Briefing Dec. 23: Day 444 – Why MKs pushed restart on judicial overhaul bills

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

Political correspondent Sam Sokol and reporter Diana Bletter join host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today’s episode.

Recently, attempts are being made to restart the controversial judicial overhaul legislation and last week, Sokol spoke with one of its architects, MK Simcha Rothman. We hear about Rothman’s perspective on why it is needed and how, he claims, it protects Israel’s democracy.

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee will soon begin holding hearings on a proposed Basic Law requiring a public referendum for land-for-peace deals to the West Bank and Israeli territorial waters, the Knesset’s right-wing Land of Israel Caucus announced on Wednesday. What is this bill and why do those who proposed it believe it will be passed at this time?

Bletter went to the northern coastal city of Nahariya yesterday to witness how during the Hezbollah ceasefire, hospitals are moving from war footing and out of their bunkers. She brings tales from the maternity ward.

Last week, Bletter visited Haifa to see how residents are — once again — celebrating the annual Holiday of Holidays that honors the mixed city’s three major religions.

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

MK threatens that judges ‘playing hardball’ will lead to resumption of judicial overhaul

MKs push bill to block West Bank territorial concessions, prevent Palestinian state

After months of Hezbollah rocket attacks, Haifa’s Christians get ready for Christmas

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves.

Check out yesterday’s Daily Briefing episode here: