Protests reach parliament, Netanyahu backs down

Protests against the Netanyahu government’s controversial judicial reform, which limited the powers of the judiciary in Israel, have begun their 13-week fast.

After the protests that lasted until late at night when Netanyahu dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who called for the suspension of judicial regulation, different professional groups went on strike today throughout Israel.

ACTION HAS BEEN ORGANIZED AT MANY POINTS

Civil disobedience actions and protests took place in different parts of the country.

The focal point of the demonstrations was the Israeli Assembly in West Jerusalem. Thousands of protesters poured into West Jerusalem by train and bus from across the country to join the mass demonstration in front of the Assembly.

According to Israeli media reports, around 100,000 people gathered around the Assembly. The Israeli police took extensive security measures on the roads leading to the Parliament.

“PITY”

Marching bands accompanied the protesters carrying Israeli flags, banners, banners and banners criticizing the Netanyahu government. The demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Democracy” and “Shame.”

The group of about 1,000 people blocked the highway in the center leading into and out of West Jerusalem. As the Israeli police cleared the protesters from the area, clashes between the parties broke out from time to time. The police reopened the road to traffic a short time later.

Israeli police also intervened in a group carrying the Palestinian flag around the Assembly; arrested at least three people.

In addition to West Jerusalem, protests were held in various parts of the country, especially in the cities of Tel Aviv, Haifa and Birussebi. Protesters heading to Tel Aviv’s central Ayalon highway blocked the road for a while.

STOP EXCURSIONS

Israel’s largest labor union, hastadrut, had declared that if Netanyahu did not announce that he had stopped the arrangement, a general strike would be called as soon as possible. The flights were halted due to the strike at Ben Gurion, the country’s largest international airport.

The health sector in the country has also announced that they will carry out a work stoppage if the government does not stop the judicial regulation.

It was claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would announce the suspension of the controversial judicial regulation through a press release, but Israeli media noted that Netanyahu postponed this statement due to reactions from coalition partners.

“ADDITIONAL SAMPLES” OF PRO-COALITIONAL RIGHT-WING GROUPS ARE EXPECTED

In response to demonstrations protesting the court ruling, supporters of the right-wing government called for a “counter-demonstration.”

Seventeen leading rabbis from the coalition partner, the far-right Religious Zionism party, called on their supporters to protest in support of the judicial regulation.

Religious Zionism party leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also claimed that “judicial reform cannot be stopped in any way” and called on his supporters to hold demonstrations outside Parliament tonight to support the government.

Calling on coalition supporters to “mobilise”, Smotrich said: “I’ll be there, come too. We can’t have our votes and our country stolen from us.” He used the phrases.

The decision by pro-government and their opponents, including the far-right organization “La-Familia”, known for its violent acts, to hold mass demonstrations simultaneously in West Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for the first time, heightened security concerns.

Israeli police have warned of the possibility of violence by far-right pro-government protesters against protesters opposing the judicial regulation.

STEP BACK

Following the escalation of protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would postpone the judicial regulation, sparking mass protests and strikes across the country.

DISCUSSION OF THE NETANYAHU GOVERNMENT “JUDICIAL REFORM”

Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced on January 5 that they were planning a “judicial reform” that would limit the powers of the Supreme Court and provide for the power to have a say in judicial appointments.

For 13 weeks across the country, tens of thousands of Israelis have staged mass protests against the government’s judicial regulation. (AA)