Israelis stage ‘day of resistance’ against judicial overhaul

TEL AVIV – Israelis on Tuesday marched on highways and blocked army headquarters in Tel Aviv in the run-up to a Parliament vote on the

government’s judicial reform agenda, which

protesters say would “dismantle democracy”.

The proposals have divided the nation and triggered one of the biggest protest movements in Israel’s history since being unveiled in January by the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Weekly rallies have drawn tens of thousands of protesters aiming to prevent what they believe could open the way to more authoritarian government.

Crowds gathered early on Tuesday in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, Israel’s commercial hub, after organisers called for a “national day of resistance” ahead of a planned vote by lawmakers on a key clause later in July. Organisers urged supporters to rally at train stations, city squares, highways and roundabouts across Israel.

Demonstrators holding Israeli flags and chanting “democracy, democracy” marched on highways and bridges, and blocked several roads as well as an entrance to the military’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, AFP correspondents reported.

Dozens entered the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, tossing fake banknotes as symbols of corruption.

Protester Inbal Oraz said the timing of the protest was “critical” before Parliament breaks for summer recess on July 30.

“This month is critical and this week is critical, because in less than a week we will know if this first law of this package is going to pass,” the tech consultant told AFP. “We are doing our best to fight and stop it.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the government was proceeding with reforms in “measured steps while continuing to call for broad consensus”.

He deemed the protesters “a vocal few, inflated by the media”.

‘Unlimited power’

Protester Ron Sherf, 51, vowed to continue challenging the government.

“The government wants unlimited power to implement a policy that is not liberal, a policy of Jewish supremacy and a religious state,” he said.

“We are not ready for that as liberals.”

Police said they have arrested at least 19 protesters for violating public order.

Rallies were also held in Jerusalem, Haifa Rehovot and other cities.

The government temporarily paused the divisive legal overhaul in March in the wake of a general strike. But in recent weeks, it launched a new political offensive to pass the package in Parliament.

It is due to vote on a measure to limit the “reasonability” clause, through which the judiciary can strike down government decisions.

Ahead of Tuesday’s protests, organisers said in a statement that it was the “citizens who can stop the train of dictatorship”.

Mr Josh Drill, a spokesman for the protest movement, said pressure on the government would continue through “non-violent acts of civil disobedience”.

“We will continue to protest in the streets until the complete cancellation of the judicial overhaul,” he said.

Lawmakers adopted the “reasonability” Bill in a first reading last week. If approved in second and third readings, it will become the first major component of the reform package to become law.

Other proposed measures include giving politicians a greater say in the appointment of judges.

‘Always’ a democracy

The government, which includes Mr Netanyahu’s ultra-orthodox Jewish and extreme-right allies, says the changes are necessary to rebalance powers between elected officials and the judiciary.

“The State of Israel is, and will always be, a democratic state,” Mr Netanyahu said at a Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog, before departing for the United States on an official visit, urged lawmakers to “arrive at reasonable formulas, both on the subject of the reasonability clause, and on other matters”.

Most recently, “reasonability” was cited by Israel’s top court to force Mr Netanyahu to remove a Cabinet member over a previous tax evasion conviction.

Critics accuse Mr Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges he denies, of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgments against him. He rejects the accusation.

The proposed reforms have also drawn international criticism, including from key ally Washington.

In a recent CNN interview, US President Joe Biden said he hoped Mr Netanyahu would “continue to move towards moderation” but acknowledged that the current Israeli Cabinet was “one of the most extremist” he had seen.

In a telephone conversation on Monday, Mr Biden invited Mr Netanyahu for a visit to the United States later this year, according to a statement from the Israeli leader’s office. AFP, REUTERS