TEL AVIV: Thousands of protestors again took to the roads and streets of Tel Aviv Saturday to record their protest against the government judicial reforms they view as assault on democracy.
Protest in Tel Aviv
The 15th successive week of protest demonstration came following Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a “break” to allow for talks on the reforms which were moving via parliament and split the country.
Protestors were chanting slogans “Let’s save democracy”. AFP reported smoke shells and flashes being set off.
Protest demonstration also took place in port of Haifa and in front of the house of Justice Minister Yariv Levin in Modiin.
Israeli press reported tens of thousands had turned out, as happened in some previous protests.
Karen Baron said: “I did not want to come but we have no choice”.
The recommendations would restrict the authority of the Supreme Court and give political leaders more powers over the appointment of judges.
Netanyahu’s led coalition government argues the reforms are needed to balance powers between legislators and the judiciary.
Saturday’s protest came a day after US based Moody’s announced it was going to lower Israel’s outlook from status of “positive” to “stable.”
Moody’s said the change “shows a worsening of Israel’s governance, as illustrated by the recent and present events around the government’s reforms regarding the judiciary.
“While mass protest demonstrations have led the government to break the legislation and seek talks with the opposition parties, the way in which the government has tried to executive a reform without seeking consensus points to a weakening of policy predictability and institutional strength,” Moody’s noted.
