A powerful Knesset committee passed two main components of the Benjamin Netanyahu government’s controversial judicial overhaul for a first reading on Monday, as tens of thousand of Israelis gathered in Jerusalem to protest the move that could see the Supreme Court undermined.

The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice committee moved two bills up the chamber in a charged session where members of the divided committee heralded insults at each other. Nine lawmakers voted yes and seven voted no.  Shouts of "shame" were heard in the chamber against what's seen as an attempt by the Netanyahu far-right government to undermine Israel's judiciary. 

The first part is an amendment to the Basic Law on the judiciary, preventing the Supreme Court from striking down legislation that are deemed unconstitutional by Israeli courts. The second is changes to the composition of the committees that select judges that will offer the government the upper hand.

The debate was chaotic with a Knesset member jumping on the table and chanting, cursing and insults traded between members of the coalition and the opposition.