Despite a temporary halt to the controversial judicial reform, more than 100,000 people across Israel have again protested against the plans of Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government. The main rally took place in Tel Aviv for the 16th consecutive Saturday. Demonstrators waved Israeli flags and held protest signs.
“By pushing ahead with the judicial coup, the government is deepening the rift in Israeli society, harming Israel’s economy and security,” the organizers said. According to this, around 380,000 people were on the streets nationwide, around 165,000 of them in Tel Aviv. Israeli media estimated the number of participants in the coastal city at around 100,000. There were other rallies in the cities of Haifa and Jerusalem.
The right-wing, religious government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to specifically weaken the judicial system, experts warn of serious damage to democracy. The project was suspended for a few weeks in the face of massive protests at the end of March. So far there has been no breakthrough in mediation talks. The summer session of Parliament in Jerusalem begins on April 30th. Critics fear that the government could then push through the comprehensive project in a fast-track procedure.
The celebrations of Israel’s 75th anniversary are expected to be overshadowed by protests next week. The opponents of the judicial reform announced the start of the “largest demonstration on Independence Day in Israeli history” on Tuesday evening. Those left behind have already demanded that politicians stay away from the annual commemorations.
