Anti-Netanyahu government protests continue for 24th consecutive week

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
18 Jun 2023 00:55
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The protests come in light of the freezing of negotiations between Netanyahu and the opposition coalition.

A settler gathering against the Netanyahu government in Tel Aviv, on June 17, 2023 (AFP)

For the 24th consecutive week, Israeli settler protests renewed on Saturday against the judicial overhaul plans that the government of Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to approve.

The Israeli Channel 13 said the protests come in light of the freezing of talks between Netanyahu and the opposition coalition and the constant pressure on the opposition coalition to pass the legislation unilaterally.

The channel stated that the demonstrators are protesting in more than 150 locations, highlighting that the organizers of the demonstrations consider that the protest movement has entered a decisive stage.

The Israeli police also preempted the demonstrations by blocking several streets in "Tel Aviv" and occupied Haifa.

Israeli media pointed out that among the speakers and those present in the main demonstration on "Kaplan Street" were the former Israeli Foreign Minister, Tzipi Livni, the interim head of the Israeli Bar Association, Amit Bachar, hi-tech entrepreneur Ran Har Nebo and journalist Or-Lee Barlev.

Israeli internal division flares up

Israeli media cited the demonstrators as calling on the opposition coalition not to make any concessions to Netanyahu, stressing that the protests did not give a mandate to any politician to make concessions in the overhaul negotiations at Israeli President Isaac Herzog's residence.

The media indicated this week's protests follow the events in the Knesset on Wednesday during the voting for the Judge Selection Committee, which resulted in a halt to the months-long discussions between Netanyahu's coalition and the opposition in Herzog's residence

Israeli occupation "Justice" Minister Yariv Levin also ignited the demonstrations after stating on Friday, "At the end of a difficult week, I am more determined than ever to continue and do everything to pass the necessary reforms to fix the justice system."

On Wednesday, the Israeli opposition halted discussions after Netanyahu attempted to fail a vote to nominate two Knesset members to the critical Judicial Selection Committee — the body that supporters of the judicial overhaul had sought to drastically alter.

Israeli media reported that after compelling all but one coalition MK to withdraw from the contest, Netanyahu urged his coalition to vote against both candidates for the body, essentially postponing the elections for 30 days.

However, several Likud members voted for opposition candidate MK Karine Elharrar, who was elected to the body. The voting for the panel's second MK will take place in the next weeks.