Jamie Whitehead
Live reporter

That brings a close to our coverage from Israel, it's been a busy day....

There have been strikes and protests across the country after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired the defence minister, Yoav Gallant. He had spoken out against Netanyahu's plans to overhaul the justice system

We heard from Netanyahu this evening, where he announced that he would be delaying the reforms until the next parliamentary session - this got the general strike called off.

The opposition leader, Yair Lapid, says he is ready to participate in genuine dialogue id the reforms really are halted.

Today's coverage was written by Malu Cursino, Aoife Walsh, Marita Moloney, Alys Davies and Kevin Ponniah. We also had reports from Anna Foster and Tom Bateman. It was edited by Heather Sharp and me.

Anna Foster
Reporting from Jerusalem

Four hours after the sacking of Israel’s defence minister led to spontaneous protests across the country, an uneasy calm is beginning to return.

Today has been unprecedented. The country’s biggest trade union called a strike, and Israelis watched society close down around them. From the main airport to shops and banks – even in hospitals – services were stopped. The co-ordinated action was designed to push Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu back from the brink of forcing through controversial judicial reform legislation by the end of this week.

When he finally addressed the nation tonight, he was quick to cast blame. He accused an ‘extremist minority’ of trying to divide the nation, and criticised military reservists who’d opposed the bill by saying they wouldn’t report for duty. His own part in the country’s upheaval wasn’t acknowledged.

The solution Netanyahu has proposed will buy him time. But it won’t solve the problem. Demonstrators were fighting for this bill to be scrapped, not delayed. Israel’s opposition have said they’ll enter into fresh dialogue.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners have been offered a new national guard to ensure their continuing support. In the heart of Jerusalem, around the Knesset, supporters and critics held counter-protests.

One thing united them – the blue and white flag waved by both groups. This is one nation, for weeks bitterly divided. Tonight Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has called this "the biggest crisis in the history of the country".

Israelis know it isn’t over yet

Let's now take a step back and look at the legal reforms at the centre of Israel's domestic turmoil.

As our Middle East editor explained a little earlier, the legal reforms on centre stage concern the power of the government versus the power of the courts to scrutinise and even overrule the government.

The government - and others - say reform is overdue, though the plans go much further than many people would like.

Under the government's plans:

• The power of the Supreme Court to review or throw out laws would be weakened, with a simple majority of one in parliament able to overrule court decisions.
• The government would have a decisive say over who becomes a judge, including in the Supreme Court, by increasing its representation on the committee which appoints them
• Ministers would not be required to obey the advice of their legal advisers - guided by the attorney general - which they currently have to by law

One reform has already been passed into law - removing the power of the attorney general to pronounce a sitting prime minister as unfit for office.

Today's protests and demonstrations highlight one of the biggest internal crisis in Israel's history. Ever since the start of the year, huge weekly protests have swept the nation and people opposed to the government's reform plans have voiced their frustrations.

Israel's opposition leader, Yair Lapid, says he is ready to participate in "genuine dialogue" with the coalition government if the judicial reforms really are halted for a period of time.

"We need to let the president determine a mechanism for the dialogue and trust him to be a fair mediator," he states. "This is what we have demanded for the past months - genuine and constructive dialogue, by a leadership willing to take responsibility."

He states that if the government engages in fair discussions, the country may be able to come out of the crisis "stronger and more united".

Anna Foster
Reporting from Jerusalem

Benjamin Netanyahu needed to take the heat out of the situation in a statement that Israel has waited all day for.

What he didn’t do was meet the protesters’ main demand - to scrap his government’s legislation on judicial reform.

Instead he offered a delay and further talks to try and find a solution.

But the tone wasn’t entirely conciliatory.

He blamed an "extremist minority" for trying to divide the nation, and criticised soldiers who’d opposed the bill by saying they wouldn’t serve.

The next few hours will be crucial to see if the tensions of the last 24 hours can be calmed.

Israel's ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog, has also reacted. He had previously called on Netanyahu to pause the legislation and says the delay "is the right thing to do".

"We need the broadest possible agreement, I urge everyone to show responsibility," he says.

Israel's main trade union has called off its nationwide general strike.

The decision comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement to delay his government's judicial reforms.

"The strike that I announced this morning will end," Arnon Bar-David said shortly after PM Netanyahu's televised statement.

Earlier today the chairman of the Histadrut labour federation called on all workers to begin industrial action amid disdain for the controversial judicial reforms plan.

Tom Bateman
Middle East correspondent, in Jerusalem

Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a dangerous clash that is endangering Israel's basic unity and so he said he was prepared to suspend pushing this legislation through parliament.

Critically, its not clear exactly what the timeframe is yet, it may be just a few weeks, in which case, it may not be the end of these protests.

But for now, it seems some sense of breakthrough.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touched on several points throughout his reasonably short speech a moment ago.

Netanyahu said he would turn over every stone to find a solution as he announced a pause to the reforms, adding that we're at "dangerous cross roads".

He said an "extremist minority" was ready to divide the nation and that the crisis obliges everyone to act responsibly.

Image source, Reuters

The Israeli PM says it is necessary to build back his country and nation, before adding he will be able to celebrate Passover "soon"

Netanyahu says his government will delay the second and third readings of his controversial justice bill to the next parliamentary session.

He adds that the delay comes from a will to reach broad consensus.

Netanyahu says his government will never accept a civil war, but the country is facing a crisis that is a real threat to national unity.

Netanyahu says there are currently two camps in Israel, and the country "does not need" this tension to go on.

He talks about some people rejecting military service, which is in itself a big crime.

He says that the state of Israel cannot function without an army to defend it.

Image source, Reuters

We're now hearing from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is addressing the nation after a day of protests.

We'll bring you the latest as soon as we have it.

We're expecting to hear from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

His address comes after a day of nationwide protests and demonstrations reflecting on his government's plans to carry out a judicial reform.

Netanyahu was expected to address the nation at earlier this morning to discuss his government's plans for the judicial overhaul.

After a night of protests and calls for a general strike - which halted flights from Tel Aviv's airport and led to McDonald's closing its doors - Netanyahu called on protesters on all sides "to behave responsibly and refrain from violence".

A little earlier, a key party in Netanyahu's coalition - the far right Jewish Power party - said it has agreed to back a delay to the legislation, if it is submitted in the next session of Israel's parliament.

We're now hearing that Israel's army chief of staff called on soldiers to continue to carry out their duty and act responsibly amid social divisions over the government's plans to overhaul the judiciary.

"This hour is different to any that we have known before. We have not known such days of external threats coalescing, while a storm is brewing at home," Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi said.

We're hearing from the White House now.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, says US President Joe Biden has shared his concerns with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, news agency Reuters reports.

Kirby adds that Biden is not concerned that Israel is "going to devolve into civil war".

We've just heard that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a statement at 20:05 local time (18:05 BST).

Stay with us.

Raffi Berg
BBC Online Middle East editor

The announcement by a top minister that Benjamin Netanyahu will delay the controversial reforms is unlikely to defuse the crisis which has seen mass protests sweep the country for weeks.

Jewish Power party head Itamar Ben-Gvir was short on specifics in his statment but did say the prime minister promised to submit the reforms for approval "in the next session" of parliament. That could happen any time from 30 April, when activity resumes following recess which begins on Sunday.

Ben-Gvir's party said Netanyahu also agreed to the formation of a civil "national guard", although it is unclear what form that would take.

Ben-Gvir is the national security minister and has pushed for stronger measures to be taken against Palestinians engaged in violence, including a more liberal use of armed force.

Image source, Reuters

As we've just reported, the far-right Jewish Power party - a key party in Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition - says it has agreed not to veto a delay to the controversial judicial reform plan.

It said this was "in exchange for a commitment by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the legislation would be submitted to the Knesset for approval in the next session".

However, it's important to note that we've not yet heard from Netanyahu. He was initially expected to give an address on TV this morning, but it's been delayed and we're still waiting for word of a statement.

Stay with us as we'll bring you the latest developments as we get them.