Celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the state have begun in Israel. Tens of thousands used this day to protest yesterday. In view of the planned judicial reform, they fear for democracy. The center of the protest was once again Tel Aviv.
In Israel there have been renewed demonstrations against the planned judicial reform. Unlike in previous weeks, they did not take place at the weekend, but at the beginning of the celebrations for Israel’s 75th anniversary last night. Opponents of the judicial reform had announced protests for that day – as a deliberate counter-event to the official celebrations. They fear that the judicial reform planned by the right-wing national-religious coalition could endanger democracy in Israel.
The center of the protest was once again Tel Aviv. It is not known how many people took part in the rallies there and in other cities. The daily Haaretz writes of tens of thousands. In previous demonstrations, the number of participants was often in six figures.
Netanyahu calls for unity
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for unity in a message broadcast at a central ceremony in Jerusalem. “Let’s stop all the noise for a moment, let’s look for a moment at the great miracle called the State of Israel.”
In an interview, Israeli President Izchak Herzog called the dispute over judicial reform the “worst internal crisis since the state was founded” 75 years ago. At the same time, in an interview with the Israeli news site ynet, he expressed the hope that the country could emerge stronger from the drama.
The State of Israel was proclaimed on May 14, 1948. State founder David Ben-Gurion read the Declaration of Independence in Tel Aviv. Israel celebrates its anniversary according to the Hebrew calendar and therefore earlier this year. The official celebrations started yesterday.