TEL AVIV: Members of Israel’s Arab minority believe that ongoing controversial judicial reforms by Netanyahu’s hard-line government could undermine their rights, AFP reported.
Thousands of Israelis have been protesting every week against the reform package, saying that it threatens democracy.
The new legislation bars the top court of Israel from carrying out a judicial review of some of the decisions of the government.
Palestinian or Arabs citizens of Israel from about 20 percent of the population have been sidelined by the Israeli society and politics.
Ongoing Judicial Overhaul to Affect Arab Citizens of Israel
Khalaylah, a school secretary has said the move of the government comprising orthodox Jewish parties with a history of anti-Arab rhetoric “will be very bad for us”. Arab citizens of Israel are also absent from the anti-government rallies.
Those leading protest movements are not willing to highlight messages related to the problems of the Arab minority or Palestinians as they fear it could harm their cause in the eyes of Israel’s Jewish majority.
Arab demonstrators in a rally in the city of Haifa protested against the judicial overhaul and demanded their rights.
Read Also: Demonstrations Continue in Israel Against Controversial Judicial Reforms
Yousef Jabareen, a lawyer and former lawmaker, told AFP the proposals might give more authoritarian powers to the government which threatens Arab citizens and their elected representatives.
Leah Tsemel, a lawyer known for representing Palestinians in Israeli courts, said so far, the rulings have failed to protect minority rights despite solid evidence.
The Haifa-based Mossawa Center group has said the judicial overhaul will only enhance the rights violations of the Arab minority and would pave the way for further occupation of Palestinian territories.
