2023-07-16 11:41:00
In view of the controversial reform plans to weaken the judiciary, tens of thousands took to the streets in Israel on Saturday to protest. According to media reports, more than 150,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv alone in the evening against the plans of Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government in other cities, thousands of people protested.
Legend: More than 150,000 people took to the streets in Tel Aviv to fight against judicial reform. EPO/ABIR SULTAN
Israel’s government wants to get part of the judiciary reform under way in a hurry: In about a week, it wants to pass a law that will take away the power of the highest court to assess decisions by the government or individual ministers as “inappropriate”. The draft law is currently being prepared in the Judiciary Committee for the final vote in Parliament.
Critics fear that the law could encourage corruption and the arbitrary filling of high-ranking posts. The government accuses the judges of interfering too much in political decisions. Because of the draft law, the protests are currently picking up speed again.
Judicial reform divides society
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The government plans divide society. Proponents complain that the judges have too much influence on political decisions. Opponents, on the other hand, see the separation of powers in danger, and some even warn of the creeping introduction of a dictatorship. According to the latest surveys by the Israeli broadcaster “Channel 12”, 67 percent of people currently fear that a civil war could break out in the country.
Threatened work stoppages
Meanwhile, hundreds of reservists have announced that they no longer want to take up their duties should the law come into force. Hundreds more could follow their example. Netanyahu recently tried to calm down. “The country can do without a few squadrons, but it can’t do without a government,” he said.
Experts warn, however, that the refusal of a few hundred reservists could severely limit the operational capability of the Air Force, for example. After numerous reservists failed to show up for duty in March to protest the reform, Netanyahu temporarily suspended the plans.
More than a thousand doctors were also threatened with walkouts. They fear that the judicial reform will have a negative impact on the country’s economy, democracy and security – and thus also on the health system.
Netanyahu released from hospital
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A few hours before the demonstrations began on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Netanyahu was taken to the emergency room of a hospital near Tel Aviv. The clinic cited dehydration as the reason. A heart monitor was also implanted in the 73-year-old to routinely monitor his heart. According to the media, he was released on Sunday.
More demonstrations planned
Earlier this year, the highest court ruled that the appointment of Shas party leader Arie Deri as interior minister was “inappropriate” because of his criminal past. As a result, Netanyahu had to fire his confidant. Observers expect that the coalition wants to reverse this with the new law.
The next rallies are already planned for Tuesday. On a “Day of Resistance”, the demonstrators want, among other things, to block roads across the country again.
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