Monitoring Desk
TEL AVIV: Tens of thousands of Israelis staged a protest demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government plan to introduce changes in the legal system to weaken the Supreme Court in central Tel Aviv on Saturday night.
Prime Minister Netanyahu
Critics said that the new step will destroy the democratic system of checks and balances in Israel. The protesters have challenged Prime Minister Netanyahu and his ultranationalist, extremist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has issued directives to police to take tough measures if protest demonstrators block roads and display Palestinian flags.
Israeli media, quoting police, reported the crowd at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square had increased to 80,000 people by 9 p.m. despite the rainy weather and cool. Protesters were chanting slogans “Criminal Government,” and “The End of Democracy”.
Netanyahu wants to bring changes in the legal system to weaken the Supreme Court as he is facing corruption charges in the court. After assuming office, the Government of Netanyahu has introduced proposals to weaken the Supreme Court by giving parliament the power to downturn court verdicts with a simple majority vote.
He also wants to give parliament control over the appointment of judges and limit the independence of legal advisers.
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Netanyahu’s justice minister said that unelected judges have too much power. However, opponents say the proposed changes will undermine democracy in Israel.
Israeli opposition, ex-attorney generals, and the president of Israel’s Supreme Court have rejected the plan. Reports suggest that several protests took place in the cities of Haifa and Jerusalem.
