Israelis protested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposals to alter the nation’s legal system and undermine the Supreme Court by staging rallies in three cities.
The demonstrations on Saturday in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa pose a test for Netanyahu and his ultranationalist minister of national security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has instructed police to use force if demonstrators block highways or fly Palestinian flags.
Despite the cool, rainy weather, the gathering at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square grew to at least 80,000 people, according to Israeli media citing police.
Israeli flags and posters reading “Criminal Government,” “The End of Democracy,” and other slogans were carried by protesters, many of whom were sheltered by umbrellas.
Social media video demonstrated a few Palestinian flags being flown in contravention of Ben- givrs demands.
They are attempting to undermine the democratic checks and balances in Israel. Asaf Steinberg, a protester from the Herzliya area of Tel Aviv, declared that this would not succeed. And we’ll battle until the bitter end to preserve Israeli democracy.
Restructuring the legal system of the nation is a key component of Netanyahu’s plan, despite the fact that he is now facing corruption charges.
His right-wing administration, which has only been in power for a little over two weeks, has proposed measures to undermine the Supreme Court by granting parliament the authority to overrule court rulings with a simple majority vote. It also aims to lessen the independence of legal advisors and give parliament power over judge selection.
Justice Minister Netanyahu claims that judges who are not elected have excessive power.
However, many opposed to the plans claim that the reforms will weaken Israeli democracy. The initiative has been denounced by members of Israel’s opposition, previous attorneys general, and the head of the Supreme Court of Israel.
The legal modifications might enable Netanyahu to avoid being found guilty of corruption or possibly completely end his prosecution. Netanyahu has claimed that the legal system is prejudiced against him ever since he was charged in 2019.
The incoming administration has also stated its intentions to implement social reforms that have alarmed members and allies of the LGBTQ community, as well as to continue its program of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Imran Khan stated in a report from the event in Tel Aviv that the demonstrators were worried that Israel’s far-right government was endangering democracy.
“This is a protest against the government. They are concerned about the Supreme Court’s potential loss of authority since it is an essential part of the country’s long-standing system of checks and balances, he added.
There is a great deal of resentment in this place for Benjamin Netanyahu, who is allegedly a crook. There are numerous signals in the area that state that the Israeli prime minister should not be conducting a legal battle. Additionally, they have serious concerns about minority rights in Israel, notably LGBT rights. They worry that those actions might be undone.
Thousands of protesters also attended rallies in Haifa and Jerusalem.
Although Israeli media reported that small crowds tussled with police as they attempted to block a Tel Aviv motorway, no significant rioting was reported.
In advance of the march, police increased their presence. According to police, who were quoted by Israeli media, officers had been told to be “extremely sensitive” and permit the protest to progress quietly. But they also promised to take any vandalism or violent behavior seriously.
On how the public feels about the reforms, polls have varied. According to a survey conducted by Channel 13 TV last week, 35% of Israelis supported changing the structure of judicial nominations, while 53% opposed it. On Thursday, however, Channel 14 TV revealed that 61 percent were in favor and 35% were against.
“Thousands of people attended the protests tonight. Millions of people participated in the election that was held here two and a half months ago, according to Miki Zohar, a senior lawmaker for Netanyahu’s Likud party.
He continued, “We promised the people change, government, and changes, and we will deliver on that.”
