Demonstrations
Isreal: Mass protests before court hearings on judicial restructuring
Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s plans to reform the justice system. photo
© Ariel Schalit/AP/dpa
Another protest march with over 100,000 participants in Israel: The government is facing massive criticism of the restructuring of the judiciary. The Supreme Court’s decision is eagerly awaited.
A few days before the start of a crucial court hearing, more than a hundred thousand Israelis protested against the controversial restructuring of the Justice demonstrated. According to media reports, more than 118,000 people took part in the central rally in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on Saturday evening. The organizers put the number at 140,000. There were also protests in other places in Israel. Posters read, for example: “The court is in charge” or “Without the Supreme Court there is no democracy.”
At the end of July, as part of a highly controversial restructuring of the judiciary, the coalition passed a law that restricts the Supreme Court’s options for action. Critics classify the approach as a threat to Israel’s democracy. The government argues that the Supreme Court is too powerful and interferes too much in political issues.
A comparable law has never been struck down by the Supreme Court
Next Tuesday, all 15 judges of the Supreme Court want to meet for the first time to deal with petitions against the new law. However, it was unclear when a decision could be expected. It is expected that the discussions could last several weeks.
In Israel’s history, a comparable law has never been struck down by the Supreme Court. If this happens now and the government does not accept the decision, the country will face a national crisis.
Netanyahu has not yet publicly stated whether he will abide by the court’s decision. On Wednesday, he shared a post by Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana on X, formerly Twitter, in which Ohana suggested that the government would not accept a repeal. The Knesset, the parliament, “will not tolerate being trampled on,” wrote Ohana. The court must recognize its “limits of power”.