A protester demonstrates at Ben Gurion International Airport where Israelis attempted to disrupt the departure of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Berlin for a state visit, as his nationalist coalition government presses on with its contentious judicial overhaul. (Credit: Ammar Awad/Reuters)
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday shortened a trip to Berlin scheduled for this week, according to his office, which earlier said he had held consultations "on developments in national security."
The statements did not provide further details.
Netanyahu is due to depart for the German capital later on Wednesday. A preliminary itinerary circulated last week said he would return on Friday. But the new statement said he would return on Thursday.
His nationalist-religious coalition government, in power since December, has been beset by unprecedented protests against a planned judicial overhaul. Demonstrators said they would try to prevent him reaching the airport on Wednesday.
Separately, he and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said they have been holding high-level discussions about national security matters, on which Israeli officials have declined further comment.