“SOS” and fear of civil war – tens of thousands protest judicial reform in Israel Life imprisonment for senior IS member in US

In the evening, more than 150,000 people demonstrated against the plans of Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government in Tel Aviv alone, despite extremely muggy weather, according to media reports. Thousands of people also protested in other cities.

Israel’s government wants to kick-start part of its judiciary reform: In about a week, it wants to pass a law that removes the power of the top court to judge decisions made by the government or individual ministers as “improper” .

The bill is currently being prepared in the judicial committee for the final vote in parliament. Critics fear the law could encourage corruption and the arbitrary filling of high-ranking posts. The government accuses the judges of interfering too much in political decisions. Protests are currently gaining momentum again due to the bill.

Government plans divide society

Hundreds of reservists have now announced that they no longer want to take up their position when the law comes into effect. Hundreds of others could follow their example. More than a thousand doctors were also threatened with strikes. They fear that the judicial reform will have a negative effect on the country’s economy, democracy and security – and therefore also on the health system.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court ruled that the appointment of Shas Party leader Arie Deri as interior minister was “inappropriate” because of his criminal past. As a result, Netanyahu had to fire his confidant. Observers expect that the coalition wants to reverse this with the new law.

Government plans divide society. According to the latest surveys by the Israeli broadcaster “Channel 12”, 67 percent of people currently fear that a civil war could break out in the country. The next rallies are already scheduled for Tuesday. On a “Day of the Resistance”, the demonstrators want to block roads across the country again, among other things. (sda/dpa)