Israeli PM Netanyahu says he is ‘not ready to divide the nation in pieces’ after mass protests over judicial overhaul – as it happened

Israeli prime minister confirms he will delay controversial measure for several weeks after tens of thousands protested

• What are the protests about and what happens next?

Many will be wondering today how this movement affects millions of Palestinians.

The fundamental issue at the core of the protests is preserving the balance of power in Israeli politics. However, for Palestinians, the judiciary is not seen as a balancing force but as part of the system that oppresses them. While they don't want more powers handed to the far-right government, they won't lament the weakening of the Israeli courts either.

[This] centre-left rebellion against what is seen as a coup by far-right extremists has a demographic fault line: Palestinian-Israelis, who make up one-fifth of the population, have been conspicuously absent from the protests to date, even though the new government is fervently anti-Arab and the community is likely to be hit hardest by the judicial reforms. The West Bank is already roiling after a year of increasing violence.

For most of those demonstrating, the fate of the judiciary and Israel's control over Palestinians are separate issues - but for Palestinian citizens of Israel, and anti-occupation activists, the country's democratic character has long been under question.