Thousands of Israelis demonstrated Wednesday evening in front of the Knesset building in Jerusalem against government policies and in protest against new legislation that would change the composition of Israel's Judicial Selection Committee. The demonstrations coincided with Knesset deliberations on these laws, which are expected to extend into the early hours of Thursday morning.

The demonstrators, who also gathered near government offices, expressed their rejection of what they described as an "attack on judicial independence," as well as the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

The Histadrut, Israel's leading trade union federation, announced an emergency meeting with top economic sector leaders amid growing fears of a constitutional crisis. The meeting is expected to discuss future steps, including determining the circumstances that might warrant a general strike in response to the Netanyahu government's policies.

The Israeli Knesset is scheduled to vote on the laws later in the second and third readings. If they are finally approved, they will be incorporated into official law. The Bar Association intends to petition the Supreme Court immediately after the laws are passed.

Last Wednesday, the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved a bill to change the composition of the Judicial Appointments Committee, paving the way for a second and third reading. The opposition considers the bill a key piece of legislation in the "judicial reform" plan aimed at weakening the judiciary.

According to the draft law, the Judicial Appointments Committee will consist of nine members, including the President of the Supreme Court, two Supreme Court justices, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who will chair the committee, another minister appointed by the government, two Knesset members, one from the coalition and one from the opposition, and two attorneys who will act as public representatives chosen by the coalition and the opposition. Unlike the current situation, the committee will not include representation from the Bar Association.

According to the draft law, a judge appointed to the Supreme Court must be over the age of 55, unless appointed by unanimous vote of the committee members, and at least two-thirds of the Supreme Court's judges must be former judges of a district court.