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Thousands rally in Tel Aviv against Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul Israel defence minister urges pause in judicial overhaul as thousands rally in Tel Aviv
(about 8 hours later)
Further demonstrations come after Israeli prime minister vowed to press on with changes despite international concern Netanyahu’s changes are causing a ‘growing social rift’ that present an immediate security threat, says Likud party member Yoav Galant
Thousands of Israelis rallied in Tel Aviv against a judicial overhaul by the hard-right government, ahead of a key week expected to see more legislative steps and mass protests. Tens of thousands of Israelis have rallied in Tel Aviv against a controversial judicial overhaul, as defence minister Yoav Galant broke ranks to call for a pause in the process.
The latest demonstration to hit Israel’s commercial hub came days after the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to press on with the changes despite mounting international alarm.The latest demonstration to hit Israel’s commercial hub came days after the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to press on with the changes despite mounting international alarm.
“We’re here today to show up and add our voice to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Israelis that support the values that this country was founded on,” said Daniel Nisman, citing democracy and tolerance as his key concerns. But his defence minister said on Saturday that “we must stop the legislative process” for a month in view of the divisiveness of the reforms.
“This is all we can hope for, that [Netanyahu] brings us back from the edge of the abyss,” he told AFP. “The growing social rift has made its way into the [army] and security agencies. It is a clear, immediate and tangible threat to Israel’s security,” said Galant, who is a member of Netanyahu’s own right-wing Likud party.
Demonstrations erupted in January after the coalition announced its reform package, which the government says is necessary to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary. “I am committed to Likud values ... and placing the State of Israel above all ... but major changes on the national level must be made through deliberations and dialogue,” he added.
Rallies have repeatedly drawn tens of thousands of protesters, according to Israeli media estimates, and an AFP journalist saw thousands already gathering in Tel Aviv early on Saturday evening. His comments were welcomed by opposition leader Yair Lapid who hailed a “brave and vital step for Israel’s security”.
“More Israelis are waking up,” said Josh Drill, a spokesperson for the Umbrella Movement group. “We’re not going to live in a dictatorship. Even if they do pass the judicial coup, this protest is not going anywhere.” Galant called for the halt before lawmakers are due to vote next week on a central part of the government’s proposals, which would change the way judges are appointed.
Plans to hand more control to politicians and diminish the role of the supreme court have been questioned by Israel’s top allies, including the US. Two other Likud lawmakers tweeted their support for Galant, raising questions about whether the government could count on a majority if it pushed ahead with a vote.
The US president, Joe Biden, expressed concerns over the proposed judicial reforms, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday. The Tel Aviv protest swelled on Saturday to around 200,000 demonstrators, according to Israeli media estimates.
Netanyahu was also faced with hundreds of protesters in London when he met Rishi Sunak on Friday. “We’re here today to show up and add our voice to the hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Israelis that support the values that this country was founded on,” said high-tech worker Daniel Nisman, mentioning democracy and tolerance.
“This is all we can hope for, that he [Netanyahu] brings us back from the edge of the abyss,” the 36-year-old told AFP.
Demonstrations erupted in January after the coalition announced its package of changes, which the government says is necessary to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary.
But protester Daphne Oren-Magidor, 41, said the overhaul risked Israel “turning into a dictatorship”.
“The laws that are being passed right now are laws that are aimed to make the government essentially the sole ruler and destroy the separation of powers,” the historian said at a Jerusalem rally.
Thousands of demonstrators marched past the Jerusalem residence of President Isaac Herzog, who has been a key voice for dialogue in the dispute.
Plans to hand more control to politicians and diminish the role of the supreme court have been questioned by Israel’s top allies including the United States.
US president Joe Biden has expressed “our concerns over these proposals, these proposed judicial reforms”, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday.
Netanyahu was also greeted by hundreds of protesters in London, where he met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Friday.
During the talks, the British prime minister “stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms”, a spokesperson said.During the talks, the British prime minister “stressed the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship, including in the proposed judicial reforms”, a spokesperson said.
Israeli lawmakers are due to vote on a central part of the government’s proposals next week, which foresees changing the way judges are appointed. Netanyahu said on Thursday that the legislation “does not take control of the court, but balances and diversifies it”. Netanyahu said on Thursday that the legislation due in the parliamentary chamber next week “does not take control of the court but balances and diversifies it”.
A parliamentary committee has amended the draft law with the aim of making it more palatable to opponents, but the opposition has ruled out backing any part of the reform package until all legislative steps are halted. A parliamentary committee has amended the draft law with the aim of making it more palatable to opponents, but the opposition has ruled out backing any part of the package until all legislative steps are halted.
In response, demonstrators have announced a “national paralysis week”, including countrywide rallies, protests outside ministers’ homes and, on Wednesday, outside parliament. In response, demonstrators announced a “national paralysis week”, including countrywide rallies, protests outside ministers’ homes and on Wednesday outside parliament.
In his televised address on Thursday, Netanyahu said he would do everything “to calm the situation and end the rift in the nation”.In his televised address on Thursday, Netanyahu said he would do everything “to calm the situation and end the rift in the nation”.
He said his administration remained “determined to correct and responsibly advance the democratic reform that will restore the proper balance between the authorities” by ploughing on with the overhaul. Even so, the premier said his administration remained “determined to correct and responsibly advance the democratic reform that will restore the proper balance between the authorities”.
Netanyahu came under fire a day later from Israel’s attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, who said his public intervention was “illegal” due to his ongoing corruption trial. Netanyahu was criticised a day later by Israel’s attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, who said his public intervention was “illegal” due to his ongoing corruption trial.
The legal official cited a previous court ruling that an indicted prime minister has no right to act on a matter that could place him in a conflict of interest. The top legal official cited a previous court ruling that an indicted prime minister has no right to act on a matter that could place him in a conflict of interest.