Tens of thousands demonstrate for the ninth week in a row against the government’s plan to overhaul the justice system.
Protesters have taken to the streets in Israeli cities for the ninth week in a row to reject a government plan to overhaul the country’s justice system.
Tens of thousands joined Saturday night’s demonstrations in Tel Aviv and other locations that continued peacefully, unlike protests earlier this week that culminated in violent clashes with police.
“I came to demonstrate against the regime’s revolution, which the Israeli government has forced upon us,” 53-year-old history teacher Ronen Cohen told Reuters news agency. “I hope this huge demonstration will have an impact and prove that we will not give up.”
The marches have drawn huge weekly crowds since early January, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government took it to the Supreme Court.
The protesters are opposed to legislation that Netanyahu and his right-wing and religious allies hope to pass that would limit the Supreme Court’s powers to rule against the legislature and executive, while giving lawmakers decisive powers in appointing judges.
Judicial reform is a cornerstone of Netanyahu’s latest government, an alliance with ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties that took office in late December.
Netanyahu, on trial for corruption, presented the overhaul as key to rebalancing the branches of government in a system that he said gave judges too much power over elected officials.
The legislation would give more weight to the government in the committee that selects judges, and would strip the Supreme Court of its right to overturn any amendments to the so-called “Basic Laws,” Israel’s quasi-constitution.
These provisions have already been approved by the legislators at first reading.
Another element of the reforms would give the 120-member parliament the power to overturn Supreme Court decisions by a simple majority of 61 votes.
Analysts have said such a waiver could allow lawmakers to uphold the annulment of the corruption charges against Netanyahu, should parliament vote to acquit him and the Supreme Court subsequently rule against it.
Netanyahu has denied the allegations of bribery, fraud and breach of trust and dismissed any connection between the reforms and his own lawsuit.
The intensity of the protests increased this week as Israeli police fired stun grenades and fighting broke out in Tel Aviv on Wednesday during a nationwide “day of disruption”.
“There is a great danger that Israel will turn into a dictatorship,” said 68-year-old high school teacher Ophir Kubitsky on Saturday. “We came here to demonstrate over and over until we win.”
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