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In Israel, thousands of protesters rally against judicial reform
Demonstrations are taking place in Israel on Tuesday at the initiative of opponents of judicial reform. The latter called for a day of mobilization after a crucial vote in Parliament on a controversial measure of the text of the law wanted by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
Published on :07/11/2023 – 11:43
Modified :07/11/2023 – 20:12
3 mins
Protesters block the Tel Aviv-Haifa highway near Beit Yanai, Israel, July 11, 2023.
Protesters block the Tel Aviv-Haifa highway near Beit Yanai, Israel, July 11, 2023. © Ariel Schalit, AP
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FRANCE 24
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Renewed mobilization expected in Israel against the judicial reform wanted by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu . Demonstrations are taking place across the country on Tuesday, July 11, after a crucial vote in parliament on a controversial measure in this piece of legislation.
Police used water cannons to disperse protesters in Tel Aviv and said they arrested 71 people across the country. Thousands of protesters, according to media reports, gathered at Tel Aviv’s Ben-Gurion airport, waving white and blue Israeli flags, honking their horns and shouting anti-reform slogans.
“This is our last chance to fight the destruction of Israeli democracy,” said Yair Bortinger, a 47-year-old protester who works in high-tech, outside one of the airport terminals. The government “deprives us of our rights and that’s what we are fighting,” testified Sivan Levin, 48, also employed in high technology. “We want to show the whole world that our democracy is in danger,” continued this protester.
This protest movement has brought together tens of thousands of people in Israel every week since January against this bill brought by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the most right-wing in the country’s history.
Other groups blocked roads between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while organizers announced dozens of rallies.
This day of mobilization comes after the vote at first reading by the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, of a measure aimed at canceling the possibility for the judiciary to rule on the “reasonableness” of government decisions.
The measure was adopted overnight from Monday to Tuesday at first reading by 64 votes in favor, corresponding to the deputies of the government coalition, during a turbulent session. The 56 opposition MPs all voted against.
For Benjamin Netanyahu, the bill is “not the end of democracy”
Announced shortly after the inauguration of the government formed at the beginning of the year by Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the most right-wing in the history of Israel, the judicial reform aims in particular to reduce the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, which the politicized judge executive. Its detractors believe that the reform risks opening the way to an anti-liberal or authoritarian drift.
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In a video posted on Facebook during the debates overnight, Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to be reassuring by saying that the bill was “not the end of democracy” but that it would “strengthen democracy” . “The rights of Israeli courts and citizens will not be harmed in any way… The court will continue to review the legality of government decisions and appointments,” he said.
For his part, the leader of the opposition, Yaïr Lapid, reproached the government for not keeping its promises: “You promised to help the weak and to protect the security of Israel (…), you do nothing but this madness.”
At the end of March, Benjamin Netanyahu declared a pause in the legislative process to allow discussions with the opposition parties. But at the end of June, the two main opposition leaders, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, suspended their participation in the talks.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on the parties to return to the negotiating table, which has been taking place under his aegis since March.
With AFP
