Israelis protest against proposed judicial reform

Israeli media said nearly 100,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv for Saturday's protest. (Photo: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

For the twenty-second week in a row, tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Saturday to protest a controversial plan to reform Israel's judicial system.

The government's reform proposals would reduce the Supreme Court's authority and grant politicians more control over the selection of justices.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a "pause" in March to allow discussions on the reforms advancing through parliament and dividing the nation.

According to Israeli media, nearly 100,000 protesters congregated in Tel Aviv on Saturday. The authorities do not provide official numbers regarding the number of protesters.

Unauthorized protests by several hundred Israelis outside Netanyahu's private residence in Caesarea, north of Tel Aviv, occurred on Friday, according to police. There were 17 arrests or more.

Dentist Ilit Fayn, 55, stated at Saturday's Tel Aviv demonstration, "We will continue to demonstrate to them that even if they pause the reform plan, we will remain mobilized, and they will not be able to sneak through laws."

A 66-year-old farmer, Arnon Oshri, added, "It is essential for us to prevent Israel from becoming a dictatorship."

Netanyahu's coalition government, comprised of his Likud party and extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, contends that the proposed changes are necessary to rebalance legislative and judicial authority.

However, opponents believe the plan could pave the way for a more authoritarian government.

Oshri stated, "This corrupt government is filled with criminals who are reducing our country to the status of a third-world nation."

It took the Jewish people 2,000 years to establish a state, and we cannot lose it because of a handful of extremists.

Publish : 2023-06-04 13:21:00

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