Demonstrators gathered in two other major cities, Haifa and Beersheba, as well as at dozens of junctions and locations across the country to denounce the amendment, which they view as a threat to Israeli democracy.
A crowd of Israelis demonstrated on Saturday evening in Tel Aviv for the twenty-first week in a row to protest against the draft amendment of the judicial system, which is supported by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and considered by its critics to be contrary to the foundations of democracy, days after Parliament approved the state’s general budget.
The demonstrators gathered in two other major cities, Haifa and Beersheba, as well as in dozens of junctions and locations across the country to denounce the amendment, which they consider a threat to Israeli democracy.
track suspension
The draft amendment limits the power of the Supreme Court and gives politicians more influence in choosing judges.
On March 27, Netanyahu announced the “suspension” of the legislative process to give “an opportunity (…) for dialogue” after the expansion of the protest movement and the start of a general strike.
The ongoing dialogue did not result in much progress, while Parliament approved the state budget on Wednesday, with Netanyahu pledging to “continue our efforts to reach understandings and I hope we will succeed in that.”
Israeli media estimated the number of participants in the Tel Aviv demonstration at “tens of thousands,” as in previous demonstrations.
Among the demonstrators is Israel Alpha, a tech entrepreneur from Carmi Yosef who considered the budget “shameful” because it “privileges certain sectors and does not take into account the general population”.
He said that protesting against the bill is important because “our DNA is democratic and liberal. We want a free life in which we are not told what to do.”
In turn, Yael Ben-Shalom, a master’s student at Tel Aviv University, stated that she is participating in the demonstration “because there are people who are trying to control our system and turn it into something bad” and “destroy the country’s future.”
