Protestors gather in Tel Aviv on April 15 to stage a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s regulations restricting the powers of the judiciary.Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday dismissed concerns about damaged investor confidence, despite massive and intensifying weekly protests over his planned overhaul of the country’s judiciary.A recent survey by non-profit Start-Up Nation Central conducted among senior managers of Israel’s high-tech industry painted a grim picture of the country’s economic prospects. The findings, published on April 14, showed that almost 80% of company executives currently raising capital had reported canceling meetings with investors since the start of the judicial unrest.The survey, which recorded 1,142 senior executives representing 873 companies, also found roughly 80% of startups believed the proposed reforms would likely have a negative impact on them and their portfolio companies.Israel’s high-tech ecosystem represents about 16% of its gross domestic product, according to Start-Up Nation Central.Asked by CNBC’s Hadley Gamble about the survey findings, Netanyahu said he believed “it is a momentary problem.””Look, here’s what I think. I think the f …
