Israelis took to the streets again on Saturday to protest the government’s proposed judicial reform, days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to push forward the controversial plan.
In Tel Aviv, the demonstrators gathered like every week for several months, brandishing banners on which one could read “Israel burns” and treating Mr. Netanyahu of “enemy of democracy”.
Although no turnout figures were immediately released, weekly protests have regularly brought together tens of thousands of people.
Since January, demonstrators have been protesting against the reform of the government, one of the most right-wing in the history of Israel, which according to its supporters aims to rebalance powers by diminishing the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, which the executive judges. politicized, to the benefit of Parliament.
Critics of the reform believe, on the contrary, that it risks opening the way to an illiberal or authoritarian drift.
Mr. Netanyahu announced at the end of March a “pause” in the project to give a “chance […] to dialogue”, but promised on June 18 to advance work on the reform project which deeply divides the country.
“We will meet this week and start the practical steps,” Netanyahu said, without providing further details.
The prime minister’s announcement came days after Israel’s two main opposition leaders, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, announced they were suspending their participation in the talks.
Mr. Lapid then accused Mr. Netanyahu “of pretending that he was open to discussion”.
25/06/2023 02:50:57 Tel Aviv (AFP) © 2023 AFP
