More than 80,000 demonstrators gathered at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square to protest the government on Saturday evening, with police turning away arriving protesters because of a gridlock.
All you need to know about the “anti-government” protests in Tel Aviv was that Benny Gantz, who last year oversaw the killing of more than 220 Palestinians, was apparently present. It’s pretty wild how delusional the “pro-democracy” camp in Israel are. https://t.co/uGGntJ0aT9
— Yumna (@yumna_patel) January 14, 2023
Smaller protests took place at the same time in Jerusalem and Haifa.
“No democracy without the High Court,” protesters chanted in opposition to Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s judicial reform.
On January 7, thousands of Israelis in Tel Aviv protested against the Netanyahu government after its push to upend the judiciary and expand Israeli control of the occupied West Bank. This Saturday, another mass protest is expected. Take a look:pic.twitter.com/CZMnTlEmCK
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) January 13, 2023
Levin’s judicial overhaul includes an “override clause” which would allow the Knesset to re-legislate laws that the Supreme Court had struck down, pending a 61-MK majority.
Changes to the manner in which justices are chosen, reducing unelected legal advisors’ ability to influence government decisions, and clearly defining under which circumstances the court is allowed to intervene in legislative matters are also part of the potential reform.
Many thousands in and around Habima square at Anti government protests in Tel Aviv it’s impossible to move. pic.twitter.com/L5HzV03FZV
— Mairav Zonszein מרב זונשיין (@MairavZ) January 14, 2023
Dan Netanyahu, a first cousin of PM Benjamin Netanyahu, said his late mother who had served as a High Court judge would have objected to the government’s proposed judicial reforms.
80,000 Israelis braved the the rain in Tel Aviv tonight to protest Netanyahu far right Gov. and its efforts to weaken Supreme Court: pic.twitter.com/VRzfYm3G3Z
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) January 14, 2023
He also accused compared his cousin’s reforms to methods that Nazi Germany employed, starting in 1933, that allowed Hitler to overcome legal barriers to his evil plan.
Blue and White leader and former defense minister MK Benny Gantz arrived the protest flanked by security guards and police officers.
Gantz on Friday urged people from “the left and the right” to come out in protest.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak also joined the protest, according to Israeli media reports.
