In Tel Aviv, Israel, many took to the streets again to protest Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government. Local media, backed by police, reported that nearly 100,000 people stood up in the largest protest to date. Former Prime Minister Lapid also joined the protest.
There were protests in other cities as well. Demonstrators took to the streets in Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba, among others. Israeli flags flutter in the crowd in Tel Aviv. There are also banners with inscriptions such as “Our children will not live under dictatorship” and “Israel, we have a problem”.
Demonstrators oppose the reforms the government wants to push. This should result in less power being given to the Supreme Court. For the third week in a row with demonstrations, tens of thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv last weekend.
Netanyahu continues
According to the government, judges and legal advisers have too much influence over the legislature. Netanyahu said he would continue the changes despite opposition.
He views the protests as leftist opposition’s refusal to recognize the election results. Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party formed the far-right and religiously conservative government as the big winner in November’s general election.
Among other things, the changes mean that if Parliament has a majority in favor of a law, the Supreme Court can no longer intervene, even if that law contradicts existing constitutional laws. This is why critics are concerned about the rights of minorities, such as Palestinians and people from the LGBTI community.
The changes could allow Netanyahu, who is suspected of bribing, to evade a possible conviction or even drop his case entirely.
“This is a protest against the defense of the country,” Lapid, opposition leader and former Prime Minister, told the AP news agency. “The people are here to protect democracy.”
Source: NOS
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
