It's a moment of truth for Israel and its democracy. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced he will pause the second and third readings of a contentious judicial reform bill that has seen hundreds of thousands of Israelis take to the streets for months. So what happens next?
We ask about Netanyahu, himself on trial for corruption, who prefers a deal with a far-right that is all too happy to stoke tensions with Palestinians rather than to bend. A sizeable number of Israelis still voted for him recently despite his baggage. Why? What support both domestically and abroad?
There is a broader issue that goes well beyond Israel. Democracies are only as strong as the faith citizens put in their institutions. Populists often argue to follow the leader and distrust the system. Why is that such a familiar pattern in today’s world?
Produced by Charles Wente, Juliette Laurain and Louise Guibert.
