Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a televised addressed agreed to pause the controversial judicial reforms which have sparked a tumult of ongoing protests in Israel until the summer session of the Knesset begins on April 30. Israeli President Isaac Herzog immediately contacted opposition leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, urging them to begin talks to find a compromise. Benny Gantz, head of the National Unity party, in turn contacted Netanyahu expressing his willingness to negotiate and to request the reinstatement of former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who, according to Newsmax, has yet to receive formal notification of his dismissal. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, however, accused Netanyahu of merely stalling in order to calm tensions within the country.
