Thousands of Israelis March in Protest Against Netanyahu’s Judicial Overhaul Plan
In a show of defiance against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s controversial overhaul of the judiciary system, thousands of Israelis took part in a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The protest, which started with hundreds of participants, grew into a massive demonstration against what many consider one of Israel’s most far-right governments in history.
The march, covering a distance of 70 kilometers, began on Friday and continued throughout the day as more Israelis joined in. The demonstrators planned to camp overnight at Shoresh, approximately 18 kilometers from Jerusalem, before making their way to Israel’s parliament on Saturday, which also happened to be the Jewish holy day of Shabbat.
The protest comes just a day after Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to push through the judicial overhaul plan, despite growing opposition from demonstrators, military reservists, and even appeals from US President Joe Biden to put the plan on hold.
Ronen Rosenblatt, a 58-year-old high-tech worker who had joined the march out of frustration with Netanyahu’s government, described the atmosphere as jovial, with people united behind the common objective of “stopping this stupidity, this dictatorship.” Protesters proudly carried Israeli flags and political signs as they marched through olive orchards and farmland in a line that stretched four kilometers long. They had set off from Tel Aviv on Thursday and camped overnight near the Latrun Monastery, roughly halfway to Jerusalem.
After enjoying shared meals and coffee on Friday morning, the protesters dismantled their tents and resumed their march towards Jerusalem and the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Lawmakers are expected to vote on Monday on a bill that seeks to limit the Supreme Court’s oversight powers by restricting its ability to strike down decisions it deems “unreasonable.” This standard is meant to serve as a safeguard against corruption and improper appointments.
The bill is just one part of the Netanyahu government’s broader judicial overhaul plan. Netanyahu and his allies, which include ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, argue that the plan is necessary to curb what they perceive as excessive powers held by unelected judges. However, critics argue that the legislation will concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his far-right allies, undermining the country’s system of checks and balances. They also point out that Netanyahu, who is currently on trial for corruption, has a conflict of interest in pushing for these changes.
The proposal has deeply divided the Israeli public and has even drawn appeals from President Biden for Netanyahu to seek a broad national consensus before moving forward with any legislation. Presidents of major Israeli universities have announced that they will hold a strike on Sunday to protest the bill, and doctors have already held a two-hour “warning strike” to express their concerns about the overhaul’s potential impact on the healthcare system.
They have vowed to take more severe measures if the bill is ultimately passed.
In conclusion, the march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem serves as a powerful display of opposition against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan. Thousands of Israelis have come together to voice their concerns about the concentration of power and the potential erosion of checks and balances. As the country awaits the parliamentary vote on Monday, it remains to be seen whether this massive demonstration will have any impact on the government’s decision.