Israelis protest judicial reform bill before vote
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Israeli settlers are once again taking to the streets to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial judicial reform on the eve of the vote on the law.
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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Education Minister Yoav Kisch in the Knesset, for a vote on a contentious plan to overhaul the Israeli judicial system, in occupied Al-Quds, occupied Palestine, February 20, 2023 (AP Photo)
Tens of thousands of Israeli rallied late Monday in protest of the government's bid to pass a highly controversial judicial reform bill that is said to "threaten democracy".
Israeli settlers gathered in occupied Al-Quds near the Knesset as lawmakers prepare to conduct the first reading of legislation to change the way judges are chosen.
Israeli media claimed that the crowd could have amounted to around 40,000, but the IOF did not issue a statement regarding an estimate of the number of protestors.
Around 100,000 Israelis gathered outside the Knesset in occupied Al-Quds last Monday to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reform plans.
Moreover, rallies held across several parts of the occupied territories entered their seventh consecutive week on Sundya as demonstrators continue to protest Netanyahu's 'judicial reforms'.
Israeli settlers have been for months taking to the streets in the thousands to protest the government's judiciary reforms.
The Israeli occupation's Justice Minister Yariv Levin rolled out a legal reform package that would limit the authority of the High Court of Justice and give the cabinet control over the selection of new judges.
The Israeli occupation's Justice Minister, Yariv Levin, rolled out a legal reform package that would limit the authority of the High Court of Justice and give the cabinet control over the selection of new judges.
The planned overhaul drew public criticism and prompted a wave of mass protests, with protestors on Saturday marching along "Ibn Gabirol" Street, with the city center closed to traffic due to the number of settlers filling the street, Sputnik reported.
Netanyahu claims that the judiciary overhaul was key in restoring the balance between the branches of government, as he believes judges had too much power over elected officials.
Moreover, the premier accused Monday the leaders of the protests of "trampling on democracy" and failing to "accept the election result". He did, however, express willingness to talk with the opposition but vowed to press on with the legislation without delay.
Israeli opposition MKs protested the overhaul, shouting "shame" at the Knesset before they were temporarily removed.
A bill to prevent judges from ruling against the so-called Basic Laws, the occupation's so-called "quasi-constitution", is also on the parliamentary agenda.
The latest demonstrations and political disputes prompted Israeli opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the situation amounted to "the worst internal crisis the state of Israel has ever known."
Furthermore, Israeli occupation President Isaac Herzog said he was "worried about what is happening in Israeli society" and that he saw the situation as an existential crisis.
"We face a fateful test. I see the rifts and fissures between us, which are becoming deeper and more painful at this time," Herzog said Sunday.
The demonstrators have been chanting against the new Israeli occupation government and some of its extremist ministers such as Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich.
Following his November 1 election win, Netanyahu took office late last month at the head of a coalition with far-right and Zionist parties, some of whose officials now head key ministries. The new occupation government has announced intentions to pursue a policy of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Illustrating the increasingly stark division between Israelis, the president of Israeli occupation’s Supreme Court, Esther Hayut, lashed out at the "judicial reform plan" proposed by Netanyahu's cabinet, stressing that it "would crush the justice system."
Political divisions in "Israel" between the government and the opposition are escalating in light of the exchange of accusations of responsibility for the possible outbreak of an "internal war".
Former Israeli occupation Security Minister Benny Gantz called on Israelis to take to the streets in protest of changes to the Israeli judicial system.
