Mass demonstrations continue in Israel over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial reforms, with thousands disrupting operations at Ben Gurion International Airport. Protesters blocked traffic outside the main terminal and demonstrated inside the arrivals hall, leading to several arrests. Waving Israeli flags and sounding horns, they voiced their opposition to the government's plans.

The proposed changes to Israel's judicial system have fueled a national crisis and deepened existing political divisions. The reforms, championed by Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox coalition partners, aim to limit the Supreme Court's power to overturn government decisions deemed "unreasonable." This standard was recently used to challenge a political appointment due to a past bribery conviction.

Opponents argue that these changes would give the government excessive power and undermine democratic checks and balances. The Biden administration has expressed concern, and the reforms have also sparked anxiety among American Jews. Adding to the tension, over 100 Israeli Air Force reservists have threatened to refuse service if the plan proceeds.

Simcha Rotman, a key Netanyahu ally and chairman of the parliamentary committee spearheading the overhaul, has indicated he will introduce a bill this week to remove the "reasonability standard" from the Supreme Court's purview.

Netanyahu and his supporters argue the reforms are necessary to curb what they see as an overly activist judiciary. They maintain that the changes will restore power to elected officials. However, critics fear the plan will erode democratic safeguards and potentially lead to authoritarian rule. These latest protests underscore the intense public opposition to the proposed judicial overhaul and the deep divisions it has created within Israeli society.