PM’s wife evacuated from hairdresser blocked by protesters

Israel's "National disruption day" is in full swing as of Wednesday morning, with protests happening up and down the country.

Find out now if there are protests near you, and where there may be delays and disruptions:

Former Shin Bet director Yuval Diskin addressed the crowd at an anti-judicial reform protest in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning, telling them that "this is not a fully right-wing government, it is a fully terrorist government."

He also addressed the families of the terror victims killed in recent attacks, saying that "his heart goes out to them," and said that he puts his faith in the Shin Bet, the IDF and the police who are still searching for the perpetrators of the attacks earlier this week.

"My heart is also with the residents of the village of Huwara, who underwent a terrible pogrom at the hands of Jewish rioters," he continued. "These rioters are the mark of Cain on the forehead of the Jewish people. I am ashamed and disgusted by their actions. They are not my brothers, nor will they be my brothers."

The legal reform bill on judicial review and override clause passed its first reading in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee in a Wednesday morning session.

Opposition committee members attempted to voice objections during the vote's organization. Several members of Knesset including MK Labor Gilad Kariv and Yesh Atid MK Meir Cohen were removed from the room by chairman Simcha Rothman for what he deemed interfering with the proceedings.

The bill, an amendment to Basic Law: The Judiciary, changes the conditions for judicial review, the ability of the High Court of Justice to strike a law it decides in contradiction with Israel's quasi-constitutional Basic Laws. Judicial review of regular legislation would be limited to conditions in which 80% of an extended bench of justices unanimously agreed in the power's use.

Four judicial reform protesters were arrested at the Kfar Hayarok interchange in central Israel on Wednesday morning, Israel Police reported.

They were arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct and disobeying police orders.

Judicial reform protesters broke into the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) annual conference on Wednesday morning, the Jerusalem Post has learned.

Security guards entered the conference hall to remove them, leading to a scuffle between the protesters and the security team. 

In an attempt to restore order, INSS director Manuel Trajtenberg addressed the protesters, telling them that "if you disrupt this conference and we cannot debate these important issues, then they [the government promoting judicial overhaul] have won."

A "national disruption day" is planned on Wednesday as part of protests against the judicial reform.

The protests are planned to be held as the government's legislative committee votes to pass the second part of the judicial reform which includes the override clause that allows the government to override High Court of Justice rulings with a Knesset majority of 61 MKs.

The first main protest of the day began at 8 a.m. as parents and students protested outside dozens of educational institutions around the country.

This will be followed by a protest outside of the State of Israel Museum in Tel Aviv titled "Operation Order - Remove Security" where speakers will "explain to [Defense Minister Yoav] Gallant what democracy and national strength is." Speakers include former IDF chief of staff Dan Halutz, former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin and former Defense Ministry director-general of the Dan Harel.