In a display of renewed strength, tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of cities across Israel on Saturday night, voicing their opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious plan to overhaul the judicial system. The grassroots movement, which has been staging protests for over six months, witnessed a resurgence as the government’s decision to push forward with the overhaul in parliament and the dismissal of Tel Aviv’s sympathetic police chief breathed new life into the demonstrations.
Growing Momentum and Concerns
The anti-government protests, which had shown signs of weakening in recent weeks, witnessed a remarkable revival as approximately 150,000 people gathered in central Tel Aviv, with large rallies taking place in Jerusalem and other major cities. The demonstrations also saw dozens of individuals attempting to block Tel Aviv’s main highway, prompting scuffles and the use of a water cannon by the police to disperse the crowd.
A Controversial Proposal and Opposition’s Claims
Netanyahu’s allies have proposed a series of changes to the Israeli legal system aimed at curtailing the powers of unelected judges, a move that has drawn widespread opposition. The proposed changes include granting Netanyahu’s allies control over judicial appointments and the authority to overturn court decisions they disagree with. Opponents argue that these measures would undermine the country’s system of checks and balances, concentrating power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. Notably, voices from various sectors of Israeli society, including reserve military officers, business leaders, and minority groups such as the LGBT community, have joined the protests, highlighting the broad-based opposition to the proposed overhaul.
Challenging Checks and Balances
A legislative committee chaired by a Netanyahu ally recently approved a bill that would restrict the courts from scrutinizing the “reasonableness” of decisions made by elected officials. The bill could face a preliminary vote in the legislature as early as Monday. Critics warn that removing the “reasonability standard” would enable the government to pass arbitrary decisions and concentrate excessive power. Furthermore, the ouster of Tel Aviv’s police chief, who claimed to have been forced to resign due to political pressure to act violently towards protesters, sparked condemnation among demonstrators. This dismissal follows clashes between the police chief and the hardline national security minister, who has called for a tougher stance against the ongoing anti-government protests.
The mass protest witnessed on Saturday is the latest in a series of demonstrations that have gripped Israel since January. Prime Minister Netanyahu initially put the judicial overhaul plan on hold in March due to widespread opposition, but recently announced its revival, leading to roadblocks, disruptions at the country’s main airport, and the thronging of major cities by protesters.