TEL AVIV: Tens of thousands of Israelis flooded the streets of cities across the country on Saturday night, as the anti-government protest movement gained fresh momentum to oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial plan to overhaul the judicial system.
The grassroots movement, which has been protesting for over six months against the judicial overhaul, had shown signs of weakening in recent weeks. However, the government’s plans to proceed with the overhaul in parliament next week, along with the firing of Tel Aviv’s police chief, accused of being sympathetic to the protesters, revitalized the demonstrations.
Central Tel Aviv saw approximately 150,000 people participating in the protest, with large rallies also taking place in Jerusalem and other major cities. In a bid to disrupt the city, dozens of individuals attempted to block Tel Aviv’s main highway, but were swiftly cleared away by the police. Scuffles broke out, and the police used a water cannon to disperse the crowd.
Proposed Changes to Israel’s Legal System
Netanyahu’s allies have put forward a series of proposed changes to the Israeli legal system, aimed at reducing what they consider the excessive powers of unelected judges. These changes include granting Netanyahu’s allies control over judge appointments and the ability to overturn court decisions they disagree with.
Opponents of the plan argue that it would undermine the country’s delicate system of checks and balances, and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. They also raise concerns about a conflict of interest, as Netanyahu himself is currently on trial for corruption charges. The protests have gained support from various sectors of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, and LGBT and other minority groups.
Last week, a legislative committee chaired by the prime minister’s ally approved a bill that would prevent Israel’s judiciary from assessing the “reasonableness” of the elected officials’ decisions. The legislature could hold initial voting on the bill as early as Monday. Critics maintain that removing this standard would enable the Israeli government to make random decisions and grant it excessive power.
Protesters also expressed their outrage over the removal of Tel Aviv’s police chief, Ami Eshed, who claimed he was forced to resign due to political pressure to respond violently to the protesters. Eshed had clashed with the hard-line national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who demanded a tougher police response against the anti-government protests.
Saturday’s protest demonstration is the latest in a series of widespread protests that have unfolded since January, with thousands of Israeli citizens taking to the streets. Netanyahu had previously put the judicial overhaul on hold in March following mass protests, but announced last month that the plan would proceed. The protests have disrupted transportation, including blocking roads and impacting the country’s main airport, while cities have been thronged with demonstrators.
