Tens of thousands of Israelis protest against legal reforms planned by new government
- In office for just over two weeks, the government has launched proposals to weaken the Supreme Court and the country’s legal system
- The new security minister has ordered police to take tough action against protesters who block roads or display Palestinian flags
Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in central Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to overhaul the legal system and weaken the Supreme Court – a step that critics say will destroy the country’s democratic system of checks and balances.
The protest presented an early challenge to Netanyahu and his ultranationalist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has ordered police to take tough action if protesters block roads or display Palestinian flags.
Israeli media, citing police, said the crowd at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square swelled to at least 80,000 people, despite cool, rainy weather. Protesters, many covered by umbrellas, held Israeli flags and signs saying “Criminal Government”, “The End of Democracy” and other slogans.
“They are trying to destroy the checks and balances of the Israeli democracy. This will not work,” said Asaf Steinberg, a protester from the Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya. “And we will fight until the very last minute to save the Israeli democracy.”
No major unrest was reported, though Israeli media said small crowds scuffled with police as they tried to block a Tel Aviv highway.
Netanyahu has made overhauling the country’s legal system a centrepiece of his agenda.
In office for just over two weeks, his government, which is comprised of ultra-Orthodox and far-right nationalist parties, has launched proposals to weaken the Supreme Court by giving parliament the power to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote. It also wants to give parliament control over the appointment of judges and reduce the independence of legal advisers.