Israel witnesses historic mass protests

Here's what's happening

PROTESTS BREAK OUT

Protests broke out nationwide on March 26 in Israel. Police detained civilians attending demonstrations on the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

PM FIRES DEFENCE MINISTER

PM Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for opposing his judicial overhaul plan, leading to protests.

GALLANT OPPOSES PLAN

Gallant, in a televised speech, opposed Netanyahu's overhaul law, which gives the extreme-right government final say over judicial appointments.

MASSIVE UNREST

Protestors flooded the streets on Monday night, lit large bonfires and blocked highways.

POLICE SCUFFLE

Police scuffled with protesters and sprayed the crowd with a water cannon.

HISTORIC DEFIANCE

Gallant is the first minister in Netanyahu's far-right cabinet to break ranks and call for a freeze of the divisive plan to weaken the Supreme Court.

SEA OF BLUE-&-WHITE FLAGS

Tel Aviv's main artery, the Ayalon highway, was transformed into a sea of blue-and-white Israeli flags by protestors.

FLIGHTS GROUNDED

Israeli Airports Authority said flights out of main international airport were grounded following a strike call.

PRESIDENT APPEALS TO PM

In response, President Isaac Herzog has appealed to the PM to halt the plan for the sake of Israel's security, economy and society.