Israelis rallying for another protest against judicial reform
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Israeli reservists have taken to the streets for yet another week as the government is still trying to pass the judicial overhaul law to the dismay of Israeli settlers.
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Israeli occupation forces reservists protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, in 'Tel Aviv', occupied Palestine, March 22, 2023 (AP)
Israeli occupation forces reservists are protesting against the occupation cabinet's bid at judicial overhaul, marking yet another week during which Israeli settlers have taken to the streets to protest the government's controversial judicial reform, Israeli media said Wednesday.
Hundreds of protesters have gathered in front of the "Eretz Israel Museum" in "Tel Aviv". The significance of the area stems from Transportation Minister Miri Regev and Construction and Housing Minister Yitzhak Goldknopf being set to take part in a conference there later in the day, The Jerusalem Post reported.
According to Israeli media, the Israeli settlers hung a large copy of the alleged Israeli "Declaration of Independence" from the museum's roof.
Moreover, it was reported that the Israeli reservists intend to hold a march led by retired artillery officers from the Israeli occupation forces.
Several groups of reservists from various IOF branches have participated in the mass protests against the judicial reform put forward by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial far-right cabinet, which has been taking place for eleven weeks.
Read more: Hundreds of Israeli reservists declare evasion starting Sunday
On Tuesday, a group of protesters known as the "Brothers in Arms" announced they were collecting signatures under a refusal to serve in the event the government goes ahead with the judicial reform.
Israeli news website Mako reported Friday that hundreds of reservists from the Special Operations Service, an offensive cyber system of the AMN (the Military Intelligence Division), Mossad, and Shin Bet, announced that they would be suspending their voluntary service in the IOF starting Sunday.
According to the website, they wrote that "next Sunday, the first dictatorial law will be approved by second and third readings, i.e. the law lifting immunities. We have no contracts with a dictator, we will be happy to return to development when democracy is no longer questionable."
The draft-evaders statement also allegorized "the gun is firmly attached to the structure of democracy, and the trigger will be pulled soon. It’s time to implement what we announced. All of our affiliates, 450 officers and soldiers in the Special Operations Service, and 200 soldiers from the offensive cyber units, will not comply with the voluntary reserve service."
Read more: IOF infested with resignations, service boycotts as protests continue
Israelis took to the streets all over occupied Palestine for the 11th week in a row on Saturday to protest the far-right government's bid to overhaul the judiciary over concerns that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans will undermine so-called "democracy".
The Israelis are protesting over fears that the reforms, already moving through the Knesset, would increase politicians' power over the courts.
The "Dizengoff Square" in "Tel Aviv" saw thousands of demonstrators protesting against the government before they went on to block roads while marching for "Saving Democracy!"
The demonstrations came after Israeli media reported that 250 current and former senior officials published a poignant letter that accused Netanyahu and his government of creating and assimilating destructive "factionalism", hatred, fear, and a culture of lies, and of fatally damaging "social cohesion".
The letter accused Netanyahu and his government of "instilling distrust in the legal system" and violating the "principle of separation of powers."
The signatories underlined that the government runs amok into the abyss must be stopped, and a correction process with "a broad national consensus that will ensure the security and future" of "Israel" must begin.
It also blamed the government "for putting the solid Israeli economy at real risk" due to the bad path it is following, which is leading to a "regime change" under the name of "judicial reform".
