Protests against judicial overhaul near Knesset

Tens of thousands of protesters against the government’s plan to radically overhaul the judiciary assembled outside the Knesset for a rally as the coalition prepared to hold a first vote on a key piece of legislation shoring up the plan.

Masses gathered outside parliament waving blue and white flags and chanting “De-mo-cra-cy” as they demanded the government halt its efforts to remove most judicial oversight on legislation and assert full political control over judge selection.

According to a crowd analyst for Channel 13, who analysed camera footage, over 70,000 people took part in the demonstration outside the Knesset.

It comes after tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in demonstrations across the country for the seventh consecutive week, with some 100,000 people attending a rally in Tel Aviv. Protests were also held in Jerusalem, Haifa, Netanya, Beersheba, Ramat Hasharon, Ness Ziona, Zichron Yaakov, Herzliya, Ashdod and beyond.

Nearly two months of angry wrangling between proponents and opponents of the overhaul were coming to a head as lawmakers readied their bid to push a central plank of the controversial package – cementing government control over judicial appointments and constraining Supreme Court review of Basic Laws – past a first major Knesset hurdle.

Addressing Monday’s demonstration at the Knesset, former Likud justice minister Dan Meridor said his long-time party had lost its way.

“To the Likud party I say, ‘Where have you gone?'” Meridor asked.

“Stop before it’s too late,” he pleaded, warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would be remembered for “destroying” Israeli democracy.

The vote and protests mark the most fateful day yet for the controversial judicial overhaul package pursued by Netanyahu’s hardline government.

Speaking at a faction meeting as the rally went on, Netanyahu denounced protest leaders but insisted that an agreement could be reached on the government’s judicial overhaul package.

“We all said six weeks ago there is room for dialogue, but there is no place for thuggish behaviour,” said Netanyahu. “Opposition leaders, come and talk. There is still time. We can still reduce the gaps and come to agreements.”

Nonetheless, Netanyahu stressed that Monday’s votes needed to go ahead as planned, despite a request by President Isaac Herzog to halt the legislation in order for the sides to negotiate over the compromise proposal he presented last week.

On Monday morning, protesters blocked key roads around the country. Thousands of parents and students demonstrated in the morning outside schools and educational institutions across the country.

Some surrounded the homes of several members of Knesset and attempted to stop them from leaving, drawing condemnations not only from Netanyahu and members of his coalition – who have sought to tar the protesters as “anarchists” – but also from opposition leader Yair Lapid.

Protest organisers had declared the day a “national day of struggle”, calling for a large rally outside the Knesset, marches in various cities, and other actions they hope will raise opposition to the government to a fever pitch.

A demonstration in Jerusalem a week ago saw at least 90,000 participants, although some put the number much higher.

Among those who joined the Knesset protest were several current and former IDF reservists carrying banners emblazoned with slogans such as “brothers in arms”.

About a dozen people, ringed by police protection and heckled by the anti-judicial overhaul majority near the Knesset, held a counter-demonstration across the street from the masses.

The main protest outside the Knesset was to be followed by a candle-lit march from Agranat Square, with nearby roads expected to be closed off.

Recent polls have shown a majority of the public, including many right-wing voters, is opposed to the legislation moving forward in its current form.

A broad and vocal chorus of criticism stretching from the judiciary through civil society and to the business community has warned that the moves will essentially neuter Israel’s democratic system of checks and balances; weekly protests have drawn 100,000 or more to the streets, piling pressure on the government to compromise.

Meanwhile, foreign allies worried that the moves could leave minority rights unprotected and warnings from the business community that the turmoil could sour the investment environment in Israel have heaped even more pressure on the government to enter talks and water down the plans.

Times of Israel