Israelis protest against Netanyahu's government for 20th week

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Website
20 May 2023 22:03

The demonstrations tonight are specifically against the government's decision to fund Ultra-right settler parties with 14 billion shekels (≈$3,834 Billion).

Israelis protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine, Saturday, May 20, 2023 (AP)

Thousands of settlers gathered in the occupied coastal city of Haifa this evening against the government's decision for judicial amendments, The Times of Israel reported.

The demonstrations tonight are reportedly focused on the "plunder of public coffers" in the state budget.

Protesting settlers held up a banner that reads “The plundering government.”

“[Tonight's demonstration] refers to the government’s attempt to give 14 billion shekels (≈$3,834 Billion) of taxpayer money to the ultra-Orthodox and ultra-nationalist settler parties,” protestors proclaimed.

The Israeli government's decision to dedicate funds to the extremist parties that have been met with criticism not only from the opposition but also from within the government; the finance ministry criticized it for being unsustainable in the long term.

The protests in Haifa are a corollary of that in "Tel Aviv" where the main protests have been held. Channel 12 news reported that the main protests in "Tel Aviv" are assessed to be smaller compared to previous weeks.

For months, upheaval and chaos took the Israeli occupation entity by storm. Violent clashes erupted between the opposition and police, as Israeli settlers protest against the government’s judicial reforms. Appeals for civil disobedience and riots have been met with stern warnings from both sides, as political rifts are widening and warning against the outbreak of a “civil war”.

The controversial judicial reform plan which has shaken "Israel" over the past months is intended to channel more leverage in the decision-making of Netanyahu's cabinet over the makeup of the regime's Supreme Court.

This implies that the Supreme Court will be stripped of the ability to overrule the decisions politicians make.

Those who support the reforms say that the plan is intended to establish a balance of power between the far-right cabinet and the Court. Others argue that the judicial overhaul is aimed at tilting the balance of power in favor of extremist ministers.

The demonstrations began in January this year when the Israeli cabinet said it greenlit the decision to proceed with the plan.

Since then, protests remained ongoing, even after Netanyahu announced a break in the proceedings to allow further debate on the plans.