Rallies against judicial overhaul held in Israel for 7th consecutive weekend
Estimated tens of thousands turn out to Tel Aviv rally, over 15,000 in Haifa
Thousands of Israelis turned out in central Tel Aviv on Saturday for the seventh consecutive weekend to demonstrate against the judicial reforms planned by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin and others in the government—deemed to be the most right-wing in Israel's history—say the reforms are necessary to correct an imbalance that gives High Court judges too much power over elected officials.
But protesters, who in the past two months have repeatedly taken to the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and elsewhere, say they fear democracy is under threat as the government seeks to diminish the power of the judiciary.
Demonstrators brandished placards calling for justice and waved Israeli flags. In Tel Aviv, the estimated turnout was in the tens of thousands, while in Haifa over 15,000 protesters showed up.
In Jerusalem, protesters marching in the direction of the Prime Minister's residence were met with a right-wing counter protest, however no clashes were reported.
Speaking at a demonstration in the coastal city of Netanya, opposition leader Yair Lapid linked the proposed reform to Netanyahu's ongoing graft trial.
"The fact they have a majority in parliament doesn't mean... they can erase the Supreme Court just because the prime minister has been indicted," Lapid told the gathered protesters.
Some of Netanyahu's critics argue the premier is seeking to undermine a judicial system that he has repeatedly accused of targeting him unfairly for political reasons. Netanyahu denies the charges against him of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.