JERUSALEM -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday evening that he would suspend the legislation of his contentious plan to overhaul the country's judiciary by about a month to allow "dialogue" between coalition and opposition lawmakers.

He made the remarks in a televised speech, which came after tens of thousands of Israelis rallied outside the parliament on Monday and a general strike started earlier in the day to protest the overhaul. (Israel-Judiciary Overhaul-Suspension)

- - - -

ANKARA -- Türkiye's Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the French ambassador to condemn the French Senate for hosting members of two Syrian Kurdish groups that Ankara considers as "terrorists."

The ministry officials told Herve Magro, French ambassador to Türkiye, that Ankara "strongly condemns" the French Senate's hosting of the members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), and its awarding them with "medals of honor," semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted anonymous Turkish foreign ministry sources as saying. (Türkiye-Summon-French Ambassador)

- - - -

BAGHDAD -- The Iraqi parliament on Monday approved amendments to the election law despite the objections of independent candidates and smaller parties.

A parliamentary session attended by 218 lawmakers voted to amend the election law of the parliament and provincial councils, the media office of the parliament said in a statement. (Iraq-Election Law-Amendments)

- - - -

JERUSALEM -- Israel's largest labor organization Histadrut started Monday a general worker strike to press the government to halt its contentious judicial overhaul plan.

Histadrut's chairman Arnon Bar-David issued a statement saying "workers and employers will together halt the judicial overhaul," Israeli media reported. (Israel-General Strike)