Tens of thousands of supporters of the controversial judiciary restructuring in Israel demonstrated today in front of the parliament in Jerusalem. They waved Israeli flags. Posters could be seen in pictures with the inscription “Reform now” or “The elections will not be stolen from us”. Israeli media estimated the number of participants at more than 100,000 people.
Several politicians from the right-wing religious government around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously called for a “million demonstration”. “I am deeply moved by the tremendous support from the national camp that has flocked to Jerusalem tonight,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter.
Buses organized nationwide
The organizers organized shuttle buses across the country. According to media reports, the protests were also directed against Netanyahu’s decision about a month ago to temporarily suspend the project after massive counter-protests.
Netanyahu’s coalition wants to curtail the influence of the Supreme Court. The government accuses the court of excessive interference in political decisions. In the future, it should be possible for Parliament to overturn its decisions with a simple majority. Critics see Israel’s democracy in danger and warn of a state crisis.
Parliament’s summer session begins on Sunday. Critics of the restructuring plans fear that the government could then push through their plans in a fast-track procedure. Netanyahu’s coalition has a majority of 64 of the 120 seats in parliament.
