Netanyahu refuses to postpone judicial overhaul amid mass protests
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Thousands of Israelis are protesting against the Israeli cabinet as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls for increased hostility toward demonstrators.
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Israelis protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system and remove a barricade set up by police in 'Tel Aviv', occupied Palestine, March 23, 2023 (AP)
The Israeli occupation police have arrested at least 26 Israeli settlers throughout the day, and they have used force to disperse demonstrators, Al Mayadeen correspondent reported on Thursday.
Numerous political groups organized protests on Thursday in light of the government's plans to undermine the judiciary through a judicial reform law.
The opposition had submitted multiple objections to the measure, which had been expedited in the Knesset's House Committee, and had pledged to mount a fierce obstruction against the legislation, which was perceived as "tailored" to spare Netanyahu from potential legal difficulties.
The legislation prohibits the Israeli occupation Supreme Court from ordering a prime minister to take a leave of absence.
The demonstrators have blocked main roads all over occupied Palestine, especially "Tel Aviv", where the network of "Ayalon" streets was blocked, a central network of streets that is renowned for the amount of traffic it has. The roads were opened shortly thereafter.
The police later arrested some 18 demonstrators near a police station in "Tel Aviv".
Demonstrators were protesting against the judicial overhaul plan in front of Shas party head Aryeh Deri, while demonstrators burnt tires in Askalan.
Likud party ministers canceled their participation in a local conference of deputy mayors that was set to be held in "Tel Aviv" due to "fear of physical confrontations with the demonstrators."
In occupied Beer Al Sabe alone, about a thousand people demonstrated and closed the main street in the city. Demonstrators also closed a street at the border village of Ghajar with Lebanon.
Moreover, demonstrators closed a main junction at e southern entrance to Haifa, where major high-tech companies are located, sitting on the ground as the Israeli police tried to disperse them by force using water cannons.
Hundreds of students and lecturers demonstrated at Tel Aviv University, carrying banners that read, "There is no democracy without equality" and "Academia is next".
The Israeli police arrested a major activist leading the demonstrations against the government's plans to overhaul the judiciary, Shikma Bressler, while she was participating in a demonstration organized by the Rafael security company.
The police claimed that they arrested the activist because of demonstrators blocking roads in "Tel Aviv". Bressler is known to lead the demonstrations taking place near the Israeli Security Ministry in "Tel Aviv".
Israeli occupation forces reservists protested 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.
Read more: Hundreds of Israeli reservists declare evasion starting Sunday
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."
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Netanyahu calls for increased hostility
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Thursday any power that attacks Likud member Avi Dichter, asking the police and the attorney general to act sternly and take all necessary measures against whoever dares to attack elected officials.
Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant is seeking to distance himself from the rest of the Israeli ministers regarding the cabinet's plans to weaken the judiciary, though he has numerous times declared that he does not oppose the plan, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
However, later in the day, Galant, along with other ministers called for stopping the judicial reform law.
Additionally, Netanyahu postponed a planned trip he had to London in order to hold a press conference at 8 PM Al-Quds time.
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Soon thereafter, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi underlined that any attempt to stop the push for the judicial overhaul law would lead to the dissolution of the cabinet.
Gallant warned during talks with Netanyahu that continuing with the push for the legislation in its current form would cause "Israel" to pay a heavy price through the Israeli occupation forces.
