Demonstrations: Tens of thousands again protest against the government in Israel

In the evening, tens of thousands of people demonstrated again in Israel’s coastal metropolis Tel Aviv against the right-wing religious government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Thousands also took to the streets in Haifa and Jerusalem, and hundreds in other parts of the country, according to Israeli media reports. According to the organizers, rallies were planned in around 150 cities. Mass protests have been taking place across the country for months because of a judicial reform planned by the government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced just a few days ago that he now intends to continue the reform that was temporarily put on hold in the wake of the violent protests in March. Most recently, the government focused on approving the budget for the current and coming year. Had it not been passed by May 29, Parliament would have automatically dissolved and early elections would have been necessary. The coalition had been arguing for weeks about the distribution of the funds.

Opposition threatens resistance

The opposition again threatened fierce opposition to the judicial reform. Netanyahu promised to reach a compromise with her. Negotiations between the two sides have so far been unsuccessful. Pressure is currently coming from Netanyahu’s Likud party to implement the judicial reform, if in doubt, even without an agreement.

The right-wing religious coalition wants to curtail the influence of the highest national court by restructuring the judiciary. She accuses the court of excessive interference in political decisions. Critics see the separation of powers in danger and warn of a state crisis.