- According to the organizers, more than 100,000 people took to the streets on Saturday to protest against the planned judicial reform.
- The demonstrations have taken place for the seventh Saturday in a row.
- There were protests in several cities.
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Demonstrators also turned to the West. “Biden, Macron – help us,” read the signs.
Keystone/Tsafrir Abayov
In Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheva, people gathered on the streets to protest against the plans of the right-wing religious government. A judicial reform aims to specifically weaken the judicial system in the country. According to the organizers, more than 100,000 people took to the streets on the seventh Saturday of the demonstrations. They see democracy in danger. For example, signs read: “Israel must not become a dictatorship.”
The planned judicial reform is intended to give Parliament the opportunity to overturn decisions of the highest court by means of a majority vote. In addition, politicians are to be given more power when appointing judges. The first reading of the reform in parliament is planned for Monday; three readings are required in Israel for a change in the law.
More demonstrations announced
Critics see the government’s plans as a threat to the democratic separation of powers. Meanwhile, the government attests that the courts have too much political influence.
Strikes and a large demonstration in Jerusalem are planned for Monday. Israel’s police chief, Kobi Schabtai, warned against political violence and at the same time called for dialogue. The current situation is worrying. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, on the other hand, remains determined to push through the reform. In an interview on Saturday, Levin emphasized: “It is not right when threats from the streets determine how a country develops”.