Israeli lawmakers on Monday approved a key portion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's divisive plan to curb the powers of the country's justice system despite massive protests that exposed unprecedented fissures in Israeli society and accused the government of pushing the country toward authoritarian rule.
The vote came after a stormy session in which opposition lawmakers chanted "shame" and then stormed out of the chamber.
But protesters see the overhaul as a power grab fuelled by personal and political grievances of Netanyahu -- who is on trial for corruption charges -- and his partners. "It's a sad day," opposition leader Yair Lapid said after the vote. "This is not a victory for the coalition. This is the destruction of Israeli democracy."
"No one can predict the extent of damage and social upheaval that will follow the passage of the legislation," it said. The vote came only hours after Netanyahu was released from the hospital, where he had a pacemaker implanted.
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