Tens of thousands gather in Israel to protest judicial system reforms

2023-06-04

Tens of thousands gather in Israel to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial judicial system reforms in 22nd week of action

Several rallies were held across Israel, with the main protest in Tel Aviv
Reform proposals would curtail the authority of the Supreme Court

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered on Saturday to protest judicial overhaul plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, the most hard-line in Israel’s history.

The weekly protests, now in their 22nd week, continue despite Netanyahu’s March announcement that the contentious legal proposals, which were moving through parliament and split the nation, were put on hold.

Several rallies were held across Israel, with the main protest drawing tens of thousands in the central city of Tel Aviv.

The protesters waved Israel’s flags, lit torches and beat drums.

The government’s reform proposals would curtail the authority of the Supreme Court and give politicians greater powers over the selection of judges.

Protesters holding an LGBT flag and a banner with the Hebrew words taken from Israel’s national anthem ‘free in our land’, during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 3, 2023

Police officers carry a person during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on June 3, 2023

Israeli media said nearly 100,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv for Saturday’s protest. The police do not supply official figures for the number of demonstrators.

On Friday, several hundred Israelis had protested outside Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea north of Tel Aviv in a demonstration police labelled as unauthorised. There were at least 17 arrests.

‘We will keep demonstrating to show them that even if they have paused in the reform plan we will stay mobilised – they will not be able to pass laws on the sly,’ said 55-year-old dentist Ilit Fayn at Saturday’s Tel Aviv protest.

A protestor waves a red flare around under a large banner being held by fellow protestors during the weekly rally against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul on June 3, 2023 in Tel Aviv

Demonstrators stand a minute of silence for three Israeli soldiers killed earlier in a shooting near the border with Egypt, during a rally protesting the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv on June 3, 2023

Protestors sing the national anthem, ‘Hatikvah’ during the weekly rally against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 3, 2023

People take part in a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 3, 2023

A protestor waves a flare around while walking on the Ayalon freeway and stop traffic following a weekly rally against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv on June 3, 2023

People take part in a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 3, 2023

People holding Israeli flags block the highway during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 3, 2023

People take part in a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 3, 2023

A person gestures during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his nationalist coalition government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 3, 2023

A member of Israeli security forces detains a demonstrator blocking a road during a rally protesting the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv, on June 3, 2023

‘It’s important for us to eliminate the possibility of Israel becoming a dictatorship,’ added Arnon Oshri, a 66-year-old farmer.

Netanyahu’s government, a coalition between his Likud party and extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues that the proposed changes are needed to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary.

However, opponents of the plan believe it could open the way to a more authoritarian government.

‘This corrupt government is full of outlaws who are degrading our country to the level of a third world country,’ Oshri said.

‘It took 2,000 years for the Jewish people to have a state, and we cannot lose it because of a bunch of fanatics.’

Source: Read Full Article