Massive Protests Continue in Israel for 25th Week in Opposition to Government’s Judicial Overhaul Plans

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in rallies on Saturday for the 25th week of protests against the government’s plans to overhaul the judicial system. The main demonstration took place in Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street, with smaller rallies held in other cities and locations. According to Crowd Solutions company, around 100,000 demonstrators participated in the Tel Aviv rally, while thousands more protested elsewhere.

In Tel Aviv, several dozen protesters blocked the Ayalon Highway, leading to clashes with the police. The government had planned to move forward with limited aspects of the overhaul after three months of negotiations with the opposition. However, talks recently broke down, prompting the coalition to introduce a bill to curtail the court’s power to evaluate government decisions for their reasonableness.

Protest organizers have threatened to escalate their actions if the government proceeds with legislation unilaterally. This could include blocking access to Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem, as well as stopping traffic on Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak called on citizens to prepare for non-violent non-compliance, citing its success in other countries.

The protests also saw National Unity party head Benny Gantz expressing his opposition to the government’s plans, stating that it is not reasonableness they want, but tyranny. Shikma Bressler, one of the protest leaders, condemned instances of settler violence towards Palestinians, calling it “nationalist terror.”

In a blow to the coalition’s efforts to assert greater control over the Judicial Selection Committee, Amit Becher, a strident opponent of the overhaul, was elected to lead the Israel Bar Association. Becher’s victory puts him in a commanding position to determine the two IBA representatives on the nine-member selection committee, which selects judges for all courts in Israel. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who seeks to assert political control over judge selection, is unlikely to convene the panel in its current form, as the coalition only has the guaranteed support of three members.

Becher, speaking at the Tel Aviv rally, emphasized the importance of maintaining the independence of the justice system and stated that the democratic public will fight for their democracy. The outcome of the IBA election is expected to further drive Levin’s efforts to pass legislation changing the composition of the committee. However, the coalition is not expected to advance the matter during the current summer session.

What are the main concerns of the Israeli public regarding the proposed changes to the judicial system?

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets once again this past Saturday to protest against the government’s proposed changes to the judicial system. This marked the 25th week of demonstrations against the overhaul, with the main rally being held in Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street. Additional smaller rallies also took place across various cities and locations.

According to Crowd Solutions company, an estimated 100,000 demonstrators joined the Tel Aviv rally, while thousands more expressed their dissent in other areas. In Tel Aviv, a group of several dozen protesters went so far as to block the Ayalon Highway, leading to confrontations with the police.

After three months of negotiations with the opposition, the government had intended to proceed with limited aspects of the overhaul. However, these plans have faced continued resistance from the public, as evidenced by the ongoing protests.