Tens of thousands of protesters gathered Saturday night in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities for the 22nd consecutive week to protest Benjamin Netanyahu's government's controversial plan to reform the judiciary.
Protesters have gathered weekly since January to denounce the government's judicial reform, one of the most right-wing in Israel's history, and which has also been the target of protesters' criticism.
The Prime Minister announced on March 27 a "pause" in the project to give a "chance [...] dialogue", but the mobilization against reform remains strong, as well as criticism against Benjamin Netanyahu, indicted for corruption in a series of cases.
According to Israeli media, some 100,000 protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, a significant figure reported to the country's more than 9 million residents. The police do not release official figures on the protests. The protesters, waving Israeli flags, blocked the Ayalon urban highway in both directions.
On Friday night, several hundred Israelis gathered outside Netanyahu's private residence in Caesarea, north of Tel Aviv. The demonstration, described as "unauthorized" by the police, was marred by violent incidents with police forces and at least 17 arrests.
«
We continue to demonstrate to show them that even if they have taken a break from the reform we remain mobilized and they will not be able to pass laws quietly," said Ilit Fayn, a 55-year-old dentist attending the Tel Aviv rally on Saturday night. "It's very important for us to eliminate the possibility of Israel becoming a dictatorship," said Arnon Oshri, a 66-year-old farmer. "This corrupt government is full of outlaws ... it took the Jewish people 2000,<> years to have a state, we can't lose it because of a bunch of fanatics," he added.
According to the government, the reform of the judicial system aims, among other things, to rebalance powers by reducing the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, which the executive considers politicized, to the benefit of Parliament. But critics say it risks paving the way for an illiberal or authoritarian drift.