Protests in Israel: “Largest Demonstration in Israeli History” Announced

Despite a temporary halt to controversial judicial reform, hundreds of thousands of people in Israel have once again protested against the plans of Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government. The main meeting took place in Tel Aviv for the 16th consecutive Saturday. Demonstrators waved Israeli flags and held protest signs.

“By continuing the judicial coup, the government is deepening the rift in Israeli society, harming Israel’s economy and security,” the organizers said. According to this data, there were about 380,000 people on the streets nationwide, including about 165,000 in Tel Aviv. Israeli media estimate the number of participants in the coastal city at around 120,000. There were other gatherings in the cities of Haifa and Jerusalem.

Juval Diskin, former head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, sharply condemned the Netanyahu government at the Tel Aviv rally. “While this government was legitimately elected, its shocking composition and foolish actions have morally transformed it into an illegitimate government,” Diskin said over loudspeakers.

Netanyahu’s government particularly wants to weaken the justice system, experts warn of serious damage to democracy. At the end of March, the project was halted for several weeks due to massive protests. So far there has been no breakthrough in the mediation talks. The summer session of parliament in Jerusalem begins on April 30. Critics fear that the government could then push through the extensive project in an accelerated procedure.

Israeli Justice Minister Jariv Levin, one of the main initiators of the reform project, called for a “million dollar demonstration” in front of the parliament in Jerusalem on Thursday. “We will all go to Jerusalem to stand between the Knesset and the Supreme Court and say with unprecedented determination: The people demand judicial reform.” The call’s caption on Facebook read, “You won’t steal our election!” Netanyahu’s right-wing religious coalition has a majority of 64 of the 120 seats in parliament.

Politicians should stay away from Soldiers’ Memorial Day

Israel’s 75th birthday celebrations are expected to be overshadowed by protests next week. Opponents of the judicial reform announced Tuesday evening the start of the “largest Independence Day demonstration in Israeli history”.

Relatives have already demanded that politicians stay away from ceremonies on Soldiers’ Remembrance Day, which begins Monday night. In a radio interview on Sunday, President Izchak Herzog called on the public not to protest in the cemeteries. At the same time, he appealed to politicians not to make controversial statements.

(yam/sda/dpa)