Israel's opposition head urges "responsible members" of ruling party to stop judicial overhaul

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid on Thursday urged "responsible members" of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party to rebel against a contested judicial overhaul plan, hours after media reports that the defence minister wanted the plans halted.

Earlier, Netanyahu summoned Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for an unscheduled meeting during which Gallant's office said he briefed the prime minister on the effects of the overhaul plan on the army and defence establishment.