Daily Briefing Feb. 21: Emotions high at Knesset as 1st part of overhaul bill passes

Welcome to The Times of Israel’s Daily Briefing, your 15-minute audio update on what’s happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world, from Sunday through Thursday.

Knesset correspondent Carrie Keller-Lynn and legal affairs reporter Jeremy Sharon join host Jessica Steinberg for today’s podcast.

Keller-Lynn talks about emotional scenes outside and inside the Knesset on Monday, as tens of thousands rallied against the sweeping judicial reform while its first key piece of legislation was voted on in committee.

Sharon discusses some of the comments made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his Likud faction meeting and his clear message that there would be no slowing down of the reform process.

He also explains a new part of a bill introduced by MK Simcha Rothman, in which the right to freedom of expression and other basic civil rights would all become unprotected if the government’s proposed legislation passes into law, and talks about reactions to that new information.

Keller-Lynn closes the podcast, reviewing the passage of the first bill in the first of three readings, 63-47, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Discussed articles include:

Tens of thousands rally near Knesset ahead of 1st plenum vote on judicial overhaul

Knesset legal adviser: Overhaul leaves equality, freedom of expression unprotected

Knesset passes first reading of bill to give coalition control over choosing judges

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