Protests continue in 'Tel Aviv' for 21rst week after budget approval
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As much as "tens of thousands" have been taking part in the demonstrations, according to Israeli reports.
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Israelis protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine, Saturday, May 27, 2023 (AP Photo/ Ohad Zwigenberg)
Just days after the Israeli parliament voted on the state budget, Israelis rallied across the streets of "Tel Aviv" on Saturday in protest against the government judicial overhaul - marking the 21st straight week since the protests erupted in the settler-colonial entity.
Other Israeli gatherings took place in occupied Haifa and Beer Al Sabe, along with several other cities across the occupied territories to protest against the judicial overhaul.
As much as "tens of thousands" have been taking part in the demonstrations, Israeli sources report.
On Wednesday, a new two-year budget presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government passed in Knesset despite criticism and protest, as the PM hoped to push forward religious and pro-settlement agendas.
After a long night of deliberation, the 2023 and 2024 budgets were ultimately approved by parliament by a vote of 64-56 just before dawn. The budget included the allocation of nearly $4 billion in discretionary funds, namely for ultra-Orthodox spending.
Hoping to gain the support of extremist political allies, Netanyahu announced on Monday that married ultra-Orthodox Israeli settlers who are enrolled in religious studies (rather than employed) would receive a total of 250 million shekels ($67.5 million) from the annual budget.
Following the announcement, thousands flooded the streets in occupied Al-Quds, on Tuesday, accusing Netanyahu of mishandling public funds to buy support amid an ongoing judicial reform havoc.
The intention to allocate large-scale funds from the annual budget to the service of ultra-Orthodox Israelis' welfare does not only depict the core Israeli occupation's identity and priorities despite propaganda efforts to portray itself as "the only democracy in the Middle East," but it also deepens the internal divide as settlers realize that Netanyahu will "loot" public funds, accumulated through occupation practices, to gain favor among his coalition allies.
