Israeli Protesters enter 32nd week of anti-judicial overhaul protests
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More than 150 protests are planned across the occupied land against the Israeli judicial overhaul proposed by Netanyahu's coalition.
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Israeli police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators blocking a highway during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system in "Tel Aviv", "Israel," Monday, March 27, 2023. (AP)
Israeli media reported that protesters demonstrated against the Israeli government's judicial reform policy for the 32nd week on Saturday evening, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's determination that a key component of the disputed reform is implemented and military concerns that operational preparedness is deteriorating.
More than 150 such protests were planned across the occupied territories, including outside the residences of occupation government officials.
Organizers said in a statement that “In the past two weeks, we have witnessed the direct results of the judicial coup: racist policies by government ministries, the collapse of the police, and the beginning of a wave of emigration," according to Israeli media.
They added that “All this adds to the deep crisis in the people’s army, whose operational readiness has been severely harmed by the government’s actions. It is up to us, the citizens, to come out and defend Israel."
Netanyahu hinted on Sunday that his cabinet would proceed with changing the makeup of the Judicial Selection Committee, the most far-reaching and contentious provision in the judicial overhaul package. He hinted that he was still looking for agreement on this. He then stated that he would put the rest of the judicial makeover proposal on hold.
According to Israeli media, the government’s plans have continued to perturb the occupation's institutions particularly the military.
Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, chief of the Israeli Air Force, met last month with dozens of reservist pilots who have vowed that they will no longer show up for volunteer duty to protest the revamp, telling them that the force's preparedness is "worsening."
More than 10,000 reservists who always show up for service on a voluntary basis announced earlier this month they would no longer do so after the coalition cleared the first key piece of related legislation last month. The reservists, some of whom have followed through on their threats, have warned that they will not be able to "serve in an undemocratic Israel," which some fear will emerge if the government's reform proposals are implemented.
