IBA head Amit Becher 'very proud' of Naamneh's reelection for key 9-member panel, but Levin refuses to convene committee until he can legislate to change its makeup

IBA head decries 'assassination of Israeli democracy' as former AG Mandelblit says 'This is a coup, they won't stop'; demonstrators at event decry lack of pro-government speakers

Weeks after government opponent elected as IBA head, legislation would hand its seats on politically fraught judge-selecting panel to a new body controlled by the government

Amit Becher denounces proposal to strip legal group of its powers in favor of body that would be appointed by government as 'thuggish, anti-democratic and absurd'

Licensing, bar exams and sanctioning lawyers are among powers to be transferred to future Lawyers Council; current bill would also strip IBA of seats on judge-selecting panel

As some 100,000 demonstrate in Tel Aviv and thousands protest elsewhere, leaders maintain dark forces continue to threaten Israel's democracy

Victorious candidate says his election will go down as 'an important chapter in the history of Israeli democracy'

Ministerial committee to discuss legislation to strip group of licensing power, and possibly to end its participation in key Judicial Selection Committee

Government's preferred candidate Nave admits defeat; results seen as crucial in larger fight over Judicial Selection Committee and effort to curb High Court's powers

Some voters report waiting many hours to cast ballots, as attorneys scramble to address prospect of government controlling judicial selection without the need for legislation