Thousands of Israelis took to the streets to protest the plans of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government, which opponents argue threaten democracy and freedoms. Left-wing and Arab members of the Knesset led the demonstrations, contending the new Cabinet's agenda would undermine the judicial system and widen societal gaps. The protesters criticized Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who unveiled a new plan that would essentially weaken the country's Supreme Court. Critics of the proposed changes say it will destroy the norms of checks and balances and threaten democracy by granting excessive power to the new coalition. However, Netanyahu asserted he was "not deterred by the protests." The new PM reiterated his belief that his proposed judicial reform plan would restore a proper balance of power between different branches of the government. He also stated that giving political figures more control over the court system would align Israel with other democracies, such as the United States, where politicians appoint Supreme Court justices.

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Avera Mengistu, an Israeli citizen Hamas has held in the Gaza Strip since 2014, is alive. The confirmation came a day after Hamas posted a video of Mengistu, who is said to have mental health issues, appealing for help. Netanyahu stated that the responsibility for Mengistu's fate lay with Hamas and called for his release. The video of Mengistu was the first image of him since his capture, and his brother Ilan said he always believed his brother was still alive. Ilan described his mother crying tears of relief, saying she "can't stop watching the video." He shares his family's nearly decade-long trauma with the world, "Her hope, her great happiness, will be seeing [Avera] home safe and sound."

Are you ready for a delicious and guilt-free dairy alternative? American food giant General Mills has teamed up with Israeli food tech Remilk to launch a new line of vegan cheese that is "all the buzz" in the lactose-free market. The Remilk–General Mills partnership is in the middle of a US-wide launch of new cream cheeses. Stamped with FDA approval, the cheese alternatives are now available in Minnesota, with plans to expand distribution throughout the US. Headquartered in Tel Aviv, Remilk's mission is to encourage more consumers to go vegan. Founder and CEO of Remilk, Avi Wolff, shares his vision; "The world needs sustainable foods for so many reasons…but, if we want people to eat [Remilk creations], they need to taste damn good." Blindfolded taste testers described the new line as "indiscernible" from traditional dairy products. So next time you're in a supermarket, look for these Israeli-made treats produced with a flair for flavor and love for Mother Earth.

YUVAL STEINITZ