On 27th week of protests, Israelis block 'Tel Aviv' main highway

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media + Agencies
9 Jul 2023 08:44

A group of Israeli protesters block the Ayalon Highway and shout slogans against Netanyahu's government.

Israeli settlers in "Tel Aviv" are sprayed by water cannon during a protest against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan, on July 8, 2023 (AFP)

Israeli settlers protesting against the Israeli occupation government's planned judicial reform have blocked the main highway in "Tel Aviv", a Sputnik correspondent reported.

Over 100,000 Israelis gathered for a protest in central "Tel Aviv" on the 27th consecutive Saturday. Most of the demonstrators dispersed on Saturday night, but a group of protesters blocked the Ayalon Highway, shouting slogans against the government of Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Police forces on their way to stop the protesters who are blocking Ayalon highway North, near Arlozorov junction. 📸: Gil Levin pic.twitter.com/1hT9iXTDIy
— Josh Drill (@drill_josh) July 8, 2023

Last Saturday, about 130,000 people protested against the judicial reform in "Tel Aviv" alone, with a total of 300,000 having protested across occupied Palestine.

Earlier this week, Israeli occupation police used water cannons to disperse protesters who blocked the Ayalon Highway in response to the sacking of the "Tel Aviv" police chief Ami Eshed.

On Thursday, leaders of the protests pledged to escalate the situation starting next week, with roads blocked and rallies taking place outside the homes of the Knesset members of Netanyahu's ruling coalition.

The leaders called for a demonstration "such as has never been seen before" in the occupied Palestinian territories on Tuesday, which would be one day after the Knesset is due to kickstart the plenum votes on the bill that has brought hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers to the streets over its overhaul of the judiciary.

The protesters reiterated their demand for no negotiations until the judicial legislation is shelved altogether, Israeli media reported.

It is noteworthy that in late March, Netanyahu announced the suspension of the legislative process on judicial reform in order to negotiate and reach a compromise with its opponents. The decision came against the backdrop of major violent protests against the reform.

The Israeli occupation Prime Minister claimed in late June that his government would drop the most controversial part of the judicial reform designed to enable the Knesset to override the rulings of the Supreme Court.