Israeli anti-judicial reforms protests continue for 36th week in a row

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Sep 2023 23:48

In continuation of weeks-long demonstrations, Israeli settlers take to the streets to protest against the occupation government's judicial overhaul plans.

Israeli occupation protest against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul in "Tel Aviv", on September 9, 2023 (AFP)

Thousands of Israeli settlers protested on Saturday in "Tel Aviv" and several other occupied Palestinian cities against the Israeli occupation government's judicial overhaul ahead of a court hearing on a major element of the controversial reforms that have split the Israeli settler community.

Since Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government unveiled its proposals in January, tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated weekly against the legislation that would limit the powers of the Israeli occupation Supreme Court, frequently leading to violent confrontations between settlers and police.

The latest demonstration comes ahead of a Tuesday hearing in the Israeli occupation Supreme Court on annulling the Knesset's July vote to limit the so-called "reasonableness clause" used by the high court to review some government decisions.

The "reasonableness clause" was put in place to allow judges to determine whether a government had overreached its powers.

The Supreme Court had used the measure in a high-profile ruling that barred Aryeh Deri, a Netanyahu ally, from serving in the cabinet because of a tax evasion conviction.

Opponents accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, of trying to use the proposed legal overhaul to revoke possible judgments against him.

They say the July 24 amendment to the "reasonableness clause" stipulates that the courts cannot hear cases or issue orders against elected officials on the basis of that doctrine, which will grant the Israeli government unlimited powers.

On the other hand, Netanyahu's coalition insists that the overhaul is needed to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary. Its supporters have also held occasional rallies in support of the legal changes.