Tens of Thousands Protest in Tel Aviv Against Netanyahu’s Judiciary Overhaul
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night for the 28th consecutive week, demonstrating against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary. The protests, which have become a regular occurrence on Saturday nights, were larger than usual this week, with protest leaders promising further disruptions in the days ahead.
Netanyahu’s government recently gave initial approval to a key portion of the overhaul, sparking renewed energy in the grassroots movement. However, the bill still needs to be approved in two more votes before it becomes law, expected by the end of the month.
In Tel Aviv, protesters unveiled a massive banner reading “SOS” and threw pink and orange paint powder into the sky. Women dressed as characters from “The Handmaid’s Tale” joined the protests, symbolizing the potential loss of women’s rights if the overhaul passes. On Tuesday, protesters blocked major highways and disrupted operations at the country’s main international airport in response to the advancement of the bill.
Netanyahu himself was hospitalized on Saturday for dehydration after suffering a dizzy spell. He released a video from the hospital, stating that he felt good but would spend the night there. A weekly Cabinet meeting scheduled for Sunday was postponed to Monday.
The protests extended beyond Tel Aviv, with demonstrations taking place in Jerusalem, Herzliya, and Netanya. Despite more than six months of protests, the movement shows no signs of abating. Various groups, including Israel’s national labor union, medical association, military reservists, fighter pilots, and business leaders, have all voiced their opposition to the bill.
Arnon Bar-David, head of the Histadrut, Israel’s national labor union, threatened a possible general strike that could paralyze the country’s economy if the situation escalates further. The Histadrut previously called a general strike in March, which led to the suspension of the legislation.
The Israeli Medical Association, representing 90 percent of Israeli physicians, also joined the opposition, vowing to use all available means to oppose the bill. The chairman of the association, Professor Zion Hagay, warned that the law would “devastate the health care system.”
The judicial overhaul plan was presented by Netanyahu’s far-right government in January, shortly after taking office. The protests initially led to the suspension of the plan in March, but it was revived last month after compromise talks with the political opposition failed.
The proposed overhaul seeks to give Netanyahu’s allies control over the appointment of judges and grant parliament the power to overturn court decisions. Critics argue that this would undermine the country’s system of checks and balances and concentrate power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. They also point out that Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial raises concerns about a conflict of interest.
As the protests continue, it remains to be seen whether Netanyahu’s government will push ahead with the judiciary overhaul or respond to the growing opposition. The grassroots movement shows no signs of backing down, with protesters determined to protect the independence and integrity of Israel’s judiciary system.