Tens of thousands of Israelis join anti-government protests
Tens of thousands of people across Israel took part in anti-government protests on Saturday against the government’s plans to overhaul the justice system.
The plans, which the government says are needed to curb overreach by activist judges, have drawn fierce opposition from groups including lawyers, and raised concerns among business leaders, widening already deep political divisions in Israeli society.
Activists say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legislative efforts will weaken the Supreme Court, limit judicial oversight and secure political control over judicial appointments.
Critics say the plans will also undermine the rights of minorities and open the door to more corruption. They have accused Netanyahu of trying to escape a legal case against him. He is on trial on corruption charges, which he denies.
Netanyahu has dismissed the protests as a refusal by his opponents to accept the results of November’s general election that ushered in the most right-wing government in Israel’s history.
A first reading of some of the controversial proposals is due to take place on Monday amid calls for partial strikes by businesses and professional groups.
Activists say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s legislative efforts will weaken the Supreme Court, limit judicial oversight and secure political control over judicial appointments.
Critics say the plans will also undermine the rights of minorities and open the door to more corruption. They have accused Netanyahu of trying to escape a legal case against him. He is on trial on corruption charges, which he denies.
Netanyahu has dismissed the protests as a refusal by his opponents to accept the results of November’s general election that ushered in the most right-wing government in Israel’s history.
A first reading of some of the controversial proposals is due to take place on Monday amid calls for partial strikes by businesses and professional groups.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
