Almost immediately after taking power in December, Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition in Isreal proposed a highly contentious overhaul of the Supreme Court.

The court has long been seen as a crucial check and lone backstop on the government, and the plan has divided Israeli society, kindling fears of political violence and even civil war.

Guest: Patrick Kingsley, the Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times.

Background reading:

Protesters restricted road access to Israel’s main airport hours before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flew to Italy.
Here’s what to know about the government’s proposals.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

How To Make August The Best Month Ever