As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a call to his British counterpart Rishi Sunak in London, demonstrators opposed plans to reform the country’s judiciary.
As Netanyahu arrived at 10 Downing Street on Friday for talks about the conflict in Ukraine and worries about Iran’s nuclear program, hundreds of protesters chanted “shame” in Hebrew and waved signs urging the defense of Israeli freedom.
We are Israelis and Jews residing in the UK protesting against Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is instigating a judicial revolution that is turning Israel into a dictatorship, according to one placard in London.
The Handmaid’s Tale, a book and television series set in a dystopian, totalitarian future, was the inspiration for some of the women’s crimson robes and white caps. Similarly attired protesters have become a regular sight at the massive demonstrations rocking Israel.
Women claimed that they were demonstrating to prevent what they saw as an undemocratic future in which they would be the first to suffer.
Mass demonstrations have taken place in Israel and other countries in response to Netanyahu’s judicial reforms, which restrict the Supreme Court’s ability to decide against the legislative and executive branches of government.
According to an official readout of the meeting, Sunak brought up the subject with Netanyahu and emphasized “the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel”.
According to Sunak’s office, he also “expressed his solidarity with Israel in the face of terrorist attacks in recent months” and warned against taking any action that might “undermine efforts” to reach a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
The British leader, according to spokesman Jamie Davies, “reiterated our support for a two-state solution” and Britain’s stance that Israel’s West Bank settlements are “contrary to the cause of peace” and unlawful.
According to Davies, “Israel is a crucial international partner for the United Kingdom, and the prime minister was visiting London, so this was an important opportunity to talk about issues that matter to both countries, whether that’s the threat of Iran, Russia, new trade and investment, as well as peace and stability in the Middle East.”
According to Netanyahu’s office, the two leaders talked about “deepening strategic cooperation in security, intelligence, and economic fields” as well as Iran’s nuclear program and Israel’s long-standing rivalry with it.
Days after the two nations agreed to a comprehensive “road map” for 2030, which London claimed “will drive our bilateral relationship forward” as it seeks to reach a post-Brexit free trade agreement, Netanyahu made the trip.
Netanyahu is also anticipated to meet with Suella Braverman, the UK’s home minister, who has also come under fire for her country’s efforts to discourage asylum seekers. They intend to talk about combating international terrorists.
While at home, during some of the largest demonstrations in Israel’s history, demonstrators blocked roads and engaged in physical altercations with police, the Israeli prime minister arrived in the UK.
The right-wing administration of Benjamin Netanyahu has also come under fire for its tough stance toward Palestinians, including recent remarks made by a government official that denied the existence of the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.
On Thursday, after Netanyahu’s coalition government passed a legislation making it more difficult to remove him from office, thousands of people took to the streets throughout Israel.
In a televised address, Netanyahu, who is facing a corruption trial, defiantly vowed to move forward with the judicial reform and said he would attempt to approve a key component of the package next week.
Israel’s attorney general charged the prime minister with violating the law on Friday by failing to disclose a conflict of interest regarding his ongoing corruption prosecution and participating directly in his administration’s proposal to overhaul the judiciary.
To address the political situation, Netanyahu postponed his Friday trip to Britain.
