Israeli government pushes ahead with judicial plan despite outcry

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has said there is no such thing as a Palestinian people (Ronen Zvulun/Pool/AP)

A firebrand Israeli minister claimed there is “no such thing” as a Palestinian people as Israel’s new coalition government, its most hardline ever, ploughed ahead on Monday with part of its plan to overhaul the judiciary.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition said it is pushing a key part of the overhaul – which would give the coalition control over who becomes a justice or a judge – before parliament takes a month-long holiday break next week.