Tens of thousands of Israelis protest at the airport against the reform of the judicial system. These 33 caricatures sum up an incredible week

In Israel, a number of opponents of the judicial reform demonstrated on Monday at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. According to the media, tens of thousands of people attended the rally. Protests were also planned in other cities across the country. In the coastal city of Haifa, hundreds of people temporarily blocked the port in the morning.

Media reported that security forces had forcibly pushed protesters out of the airport’s arrival hall. There were clashes and nearly 40 people were arrested. Before the protest, Israel’s far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir asked the police not to capitulate to “rioters” and people “who want to undermine democracy”.

The airport authorities and the police had announced that they wanted to limit the protest to 5,000 participants. The organizers, on the other hand, had announced that anyone who wanted to express their protest would come to the airport.

Ahead of a major army military offensive in the West Bank city of Jenin, MP Danny Danon of the ruling Likud party called for a halt to protests and reform debate. Army reservists said in a statement that as long as reform is pushed through in parliament, they will continue to be forced to demonstrate. In protest against the reform, numerous reservists had failed to show up in the past.

The government resumes a pause in the restructuring of the judicial system, which aims to weaken the country’s highest court. The government accuses the judges of excessive interference in political decisions. Critics see the separation of powers and the democratic order in danger. For months, there have been regular mass protests against the project in the country. (sda/dpa)