The January announcement of the plan, led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition that includes far-right parties and ultra-Orthodox Jews, sparked one of the biggest protest movements in the country’s history, which mobilizes tens of thousands of demonstrators every week.
According to the government, the reform aims, among other things, to rebalance powers, by reducing the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, which the executive considers politicized, in favor of Parliament. But its detractors believe that it risks opening the way to an anti-liberal or authoritarian drift.
“Come down from your balcony, the country is collapsing”
“Democracy, Democracy!” chanted the demonstrators heading towards Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv. “We won’t give up until the situation improves. Get off your balcony, the country is collapsing,” they shouted again.
“Despite months of protests, things are not going the way we wanted because a significant part of the reform of the judicial system was passed (in Parliament) a few weeks ago,” a protester told AFP. , Ben Peleg.
A pending legislative process
“But if we continue to put pressure on the streets, it is possible that we can still stop these changes”, hopes this doctor of 47 years. A first clause of the draft, limiting the possibility for the Supreme Court to invalidate a government decision, was adopted by Parliament.
The legislative process is currently on hold due to Parliament’s summer recess, with Netanyahu pledging to be open to negotiations on future steps. The protests have been supported by political opponents, secular and religious groups, blue-collar and tech workers, peace activists and military reservists. These months of protests, some of them in support of the government, have raised fears of deepening rifts within Israeli society.
“Israel is torn apart and we feel like we are on the brink of a civil war,” Peleg added. “When we go out into the streets to protest, we are afraid of those who support the government… This government must be overthrown.”