The Israelis took to the streets! The target is Netanyahu

Tens of thousands of people took to the squares at the call of non-governmental organizations, lawyers and some groups in the high-tech sector in Israel.

Announcing that more than 100,000 people took part in the demonstrations, the Israeli police took intense security measures on the roads leading to Tel Aviv’s squares.

140 THOUSAND PEOPLE TAKE TO THE STREETS

According to Israeli press reports, approximately 130,000 people in Tel Aviv, approximately 4,000 in West Jerusalem and 6,000 in the northern city of Haifa took to the streets against the Netanyahu government’s policies.

Yair Lapid, leader of the main opposition party Hay Futuro Party, who announced that he will take part in this week’s demonstrations, said in his speech here: “We will protect our country and democracy. We won’t give up until we win.” He said.

motto DEMOCRACY

Thousands of protesters of all ages, gathered in Azrieli Square in downtown Tel Aviv, carried Israeli flags. The demonstrators accompanied the slogans “No to the dictatorship” and “Democracy” on the stages set up in the square.

Former members of the judiciary, literati and artists took the stage and criticized the policies of the Netanyahu government. Some protesters carried banners criticizing the government and Israeli flags, while others marched with torches.

EXPLOITERS EXPLAIN WHY THEY TAKE THE STREET

Academic Julia Levin (30), who participated in the demonstrations, said that the right-wing government tried to stop the Supreme Court from protecting minority rights, and that she participated in the demonstrations to react to this.

Fine arts student Noah Wiegenfeld (20) said he came to the protest because he thought he would not be able to get his rights in Israel and would be discriminated against as a woman.

Wiegenfeld stated that he has European citizenship and “it bothers him to think that he will not live in Israel in the future,” adding: “(Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land) If the occupation existed in the past, it is increasingly a reality today. . This is turning into a dictatorship. The occupation takes place every day in the West Bank. My friends stand guard there at the age of 18 and dominate the people here to serve the agendas of right-wing politicians.” saying.

Itay (63), who participated in the demonstrations, said he was concerned about the government’s effort to depower the Supreme Court, stating that he saw the power of the right-wing in Israel as very problematic and it came out. streets to protest this.

Responding to a question about the impact of the far-right coalition in Israel on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Itay said that “the government has made promises but hopes that the facts on the ground will stop the government.”

NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT “JUDICIAL REFORM”

Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced on January 5 that they were planning a law that would limit the powers of the Supreme Court and reduce the influence of the judiciary in the selection of judges.

Moves by the Netanyahu-led coalition government to transfer some of the powers of the judiciary to Parliament sparked tensions between the government and the Israeli judiciary, especially the Supreme Court.

Israel’s Supreme Court, which acts as the country’s highest judicial authority, has the power to annul laws passed by the Assembly if they contradict the “fundamental laws” accepted as a draft Constitution. Netanyahu’s government claimed in the court ruling that it announced it would deprive the Supreme Court of its authority to strike down laws passed by the Assembly.

The judiciary crisis deepened when Israel’s Supreme Court ruled on January 18 that Shas leader Arya Deri, who held multiple ministerial posts in Netanyahu’s government, could not be included in the cabinet “because he was convicted of tax crimes”. (AA)