Over 10k settlers protest at Ben Gurion Airport, clash with police
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The Israeli occupation police say it arrested 71 settlers during protests that roamed occupied Palestine against the judicial overhaul.
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Israeli occupation security forces detain an anti-overhaul demonstrator during a protest at Ben Gurion Airport, on July 11, 2023 (AFP)
Israeli media reported that thousands of Israeli settlers protested at Ben Gurion Airport in "Tel Aviv" over the Israeli occupation's government plans to approve a judicial overhaul.
The Israeli Channel 12 reported that the demonstrators blocked a section of the entrances to the airport, suggesting that more than 10,000 settlers were protesting in the area.
The Israeli Kan channel noted that the number of injuries among demonstrators due to clashes with Israeli police reached 13, while the Israeli police said it arrested 71 settlers.
Channel 12 cited reporters at the Ben Gurion Airport as saying that "the worst of the airport crowding is over," noting that demonstrators likely headed to Tuesday night's main protest on "Kaplan Street" in "Tel Aviv".
Mass demonstrations also took place in several occupied Palestinian cities, as anti-overhaul settlers blocked major highways and intersections and clashed with Israeli police who used horses and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.
Al Mayadeen correspondent in occupied Al-Quds reported that a large number of Israeli demonstrators gathered in front of the Israeli Supreme Court building in a show of support for the institution.
On its part, the White House called on Israeli occupation authorities "to protect and respect the right of peaceful assembly."
On Monday night, the Israeli Knesset approved, in a first reading, a key clause of the judicial reform that limits the powers of the Supreme Court. The judicial reform plan had, over the past months, led to a series of settler protests across occupied Palestine.
The text aims to eliminate the possibility for the judiciary to decide on the "reasonability" of government decisions.
While the bill faces fierce opposition, Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that it aims to balance the powers by reducing the powers of the occupation's Supreme Court in favor of its Knesset.
The text was approved during a turbulent session. The Netanyahu coalition had unanimously voted for the bill while the opposition unanimously voted against it, marking the votes 64 to 56 in favor of the coalition.
The text affects the appointment of ministers. In January, an Israeli Supreme Court decision forced Netanyahu to dismiss the second-in-command in the government, Aryeh Deri, convicted of tax evasion.
Israeli media reported on Monday that settlers attempted to storm the Knesset in protest against the judicial amendments, noting that the guards forcibly removed them.
Clashes erupted between illegal Israeli settlers and the occupation security forces after settlers stormed the Knesset as part of their protest against the judicial reforms proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.#Palestine pic.twitter.com/Vk57FE8GO6
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) July 10, 2023
Read more: Israeli cabinet to collapse if judicial overhaul suspended: Officials
