ISRAELI protesters blocked highways leading to Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel Aviv at the start of countrywide demonstrations today against the government's planned judicial overhaul.

The demonstrations came the morning after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ultra right-wing government gave initial approval to a Bill to limit the Supreme Court’s oversight powers, pressing ahead with changes to the judiciary despite widespread protests.

The plan has provoked months of protests by opponents who say the changes are pushing the country towards authoritarian rule.

Police used a water cannon against protesters today who blocked a main road to Jerusalem. Officers arrested several others who had obstructed a highway next to the central city of Modiin. 

Demonstrators blocked a main highway in Haifa, snarling traffic along the beachfront. About 42 people were arrested.

Arnon Bar-David, head of the country’s national labour union, the Histadrut, threatened a general strike, saying: “If the situation reaches an extreme, we will intervene and employ our strength.”

Critics of the judicial overhaul say it will concentrate power in the hands of the most far-right government in the history of Israel.

They also say Mr Netanyahu has a conflict of interest because he is on trial for charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes, all of which he has denied.