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Protest in Israel: "We will save democracy"
Photo: AMMAR AWAD/ REUTERS
Thousands of Israelis protested in front of the parliament in Jerusalem against the country's planned judicial reform.
They waved Israeli flags and held up protest signs.
"We're saving democracy," read one of them.
Further protests erupted across the country.
Members of numerous professional groups took part in a parallel strike.
MPs burst into tears
The Knesset's Judiciary Committee approved part of the controversial reform this morning.
A total of three readings in Parliament are required for a change in the law.
During the debate in the committee there were tumultuous scenes.
Members of the opposition made their protest loud and clear, jumping over tables and repeatedly shouting: "Shame, shame, shame!" Shortly afterwards, they were dragged out of the room by stewards.
A deputy from the opposition party Israel Beitenu burst into tears over the situation.
For weeks, tens of thousands of Israelis have been demonstrating against Benjamin Netanyahu's government's plan to deliberately weaken the Supreme Court.
The aim of the reform is to give Parliament the power to overrule Supreme Court decisions by a simple majority.
Politicians should also be given more influence in the appointment of judges.
Critics see this as a threat to the democratic separation of powers.
The right-wing religious government, on the other hand, argues that the Supreme Court is currently exercising too much political influence.
In view of the extreme tensions between the two camps, President Yitzhak Herzog warned of a constitutional and social collapse in Israel in a speech on Sunday evening.
"We are moments away from a clash, perhaps even a violent one." He called for mutual dialogue and compromise.
muk/dpa
