In a few days, Israel’s government intends to pass a key element to weaken the judiciary. The project divides large sections of Israeli society. Tens of thousands take to the streets.
Before a crucial vote in parliament, several hundred thousand people across Israel protested against the planned weakening of the judiciary. Channel 13 estimates that around 170,000 people gathered in the center of the coastal city of Tel Aviv in the evening, and 85,000 in Jerusalem. According to media reports, there were occasional violent clashes with the police.
Organizers of the protests put the number of participants across the country at more than half a million. It would be one of the biggest protest days since regular demonstrations began in early January. Altogether, Israel has around 10 million inhabitants. Protest signs in Tel Aviv read, for example, “Netanyahu the enemy of democracy” or “Save our homeland”. Many Israelis in the metropolis are afraid that Israel could change fundamentally with the reform. The protest movement is the largest in Israel’s history and encompasses broad sections of society.
On Sunday morning, Israel’s right-wing religious government intends to present a core element of its plans to weaken the judiciary to parliamentarians. However, the final passage of the controversial law is not expected before Monday afternoon.
Resistance in the military is increasing
For more than six months, the project has divided large sections of Israeli society. Thousands regularly take to the streets. Recently, resistance within the military has also increased.
According to media reports in Herzliya, more than 10,000 reservists would no longer be on duty if the government’s controversial judicial restructuring were not stopped. According to the reports, this could significantly affect the operational readiness of the military. The military initially declined to comment.
On Friday, more than 1,000 Air Force reservists had already threatened to refuse service. Defense Minister Joav Galant then announced that he was trying to reach a “consensus”. According to media reports, he should try to postpone the planned vote.
More than 100 senior ex-security chiefs in the country also sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing their support for the possible draft evaders and calling on him to stop the legislation. Netanyahu is “personally responsible for the serious damage inflicted on Israel’s military and security,” the letter said.
Critics see danger for democracy
Negotiations on a compromise have so far been unsuccessful. According to media reports, efforts should continue in the background. The law is part of a larger package that critics see as a threat to Israel’s democracy.
The country’s highest court should no longer be able to judge a decision by the government or individual ministers as “inappropriate”. Critics fear that this will encourage corruption and thus the arbitrary filling of important posts and layoffs. The Netanyahu government, on the other hand, accuses the judiciary of interfering too much in political decisions.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
