The news fist broke weeks ago but now the human stakes have reached the front pages, with thousands of Israelis taken to the streets.  Are Israel's judicial "reforms" simply a way for Netanyahu to skirt the law and consolidate power? Some had felt that the Israeli court had abused its power, but is it a coincidence that Netanyahu faced charges of corruption and abuse of public trust, against which these new reforms would protect him? The Israeli government has few checks. Neuter the courts, and there's only one organ of power, an unchecked parliament.