Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered on Saturday to protest plans to overhaul the judiciary by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, the toughest line in Israel’s history.
The weekly protests, now in their 22nd week, continue despite Netanyahu’s announcement in March that contentious legislative proposals, which passed parliament and divided the nation, were suspended.
Several rallies took place across Israel, with the main demonstration drawing tens of thousands of people to the central city of Tel Aviv.
Protesters waved Israeli flags, lit torches and beat drums.
The government’s reform proposals would reduce the authority of the Supreme Court and give politicians greater powers over the selection of judges.
Protesters holding an LGBT flag and a banner with the Hebrew words taken from Israel’s national anthem ‘Free in Our Land’, during a demonstration against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul of his nationalist coalition government, in Tel Aviv, Israel on June 3, 2023
Police officers carry a person during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul of his nationalist coalition government, in Tel Aviv on June 3, 2023
Israeli media said nearly 100,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv for Saturday’s protest. The police do not provide official figures on the number of protesters.
On Friday, several hundred Israelis demonstrated outside Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea, north of Tel Aviv, in a police demonstration described as prohibited. There have been at least 17 arrests.
“We will continue to demonstrate to show them that even if they have paused in the reform plan, we will remain mobilized – they cannot pass laws on the sly,” Ilit Fayn, a 55-year-old dentist, said during the meeting. Saturday’s demonstration in Tel Aviv. .
“It is important for us to eliminate the possibility of Israel becoming a dictatorship,” added Arnon Oshri, a 66-year-old farmer.
A protester holds up a red flare under a large banner held by fellow protesters during the weekly rally against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv on June 3, 2023
Demonstrators observe a minute’s silence for three Israeli soldiers killed earlier in a shooting near the border with Egypt, during a rally to protest the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul bill, in Tel Aviv on 3 June 2023
Protesters sing the national anthem “Hatikvah” during the weekly rally against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 3, 2023
People take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul of his nationalist coalition government, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 3, 2023
A protester waves a flare while marching on the Ayalon highway and stopping traffic following a weekly rally against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on June 3, 2023
People take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul of his nationalist coalition government, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 3, 2023
People holding Israeli flags block the highway during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul of his nationalist coalition government, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 3, 2023
People take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul of his nationalist coalition government, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 3, 2023
People take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul of his nationalist coalition government, in Tel Aviv, Israel, June 3, 2023
A person gestures during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the judicial overhaul of his nationalist coalition government, in Tel Aviv, Israel June 3, 2023
A member of the Israeli security forces stops a protester blocking a road during a rally to protest against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul bill, in Tel Aviv on June 3, 2023
Netanyahu’s government, a coalition between his Likud party and far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues the proposed changes are necessary to rebalance power between lawmakers and the judiciary.
However, opponents of the plan believe it could pave the way for a more authoritarian government.
“This corrupt government is full of outlaws who are degrading our country to the level of a third world country,” Oshri said.
“It took 2,000 years for the Jewish people to have a state, and we cannot lose it to a bunch of fanatics.”
Last Saturday, some 235,000 Israelis turned out for the anti-government protests, according to organizers’ estimates.
Demonstrations were staged across the country, with the main demonstration taking place on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv.
Organizers later said there were 150,000 people at the Tel Aviv rally.