Netanyahu’s step back was not enough: Hundreds of thousands continue to demonstrate

Israelis have been protesting for weeks against the government’s controversial court settlement, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement to delay it.

Israelis, who hold massive demonstrations across the country every Saturday night against judicial regulation by the far-right coalition government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, once again descended on the squares.

Tens of thousands of Israelis participated in demonstrations in cities such as Tel Aviv, West Jerusalem, Haifa, Ra’anana and Netanya.

450 THOUSAND ISRAELIS ATTENDED

The “Umbrella Movement”, one of the groups that organized the protests, announced in a written statement that “230,000 people in Tel Aviv and more than 450,000 people across the country took to the streets in week 13 of the demonstrations. celebrated all over the world.” Israel to defend democracy”.

In the statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to postpone judicial regulation and affirm that “the attempt to put the protesters to sleep failed”, the Umbrella Movement said: “We will continue on the streets until we guarantee that Israel is a State democratic”. made his assessment.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Government Complex on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv, which hosts the largest demonstration, as it does every week.

Giant banners reading “Crime Minister” in English were hung in the area where the demonstrations took place, against Netanyahu’s tenure as prime minister.

On the stage set up in the square, names from different segments of Israel, such as politics, art and business, gave speeches in favor of democracy. The demonstrators supported the speakers with slogans in front of the giant screens installed in the main surrounding streets.

Often chanting “democracy” while holding Israeli flags, the protesters carried banners criticizing far-right politicians in the coalition government.

Also striking was the presence of American flags at the demonstrations this week. Large numbers of protesters carrying the Israeli and American flags drew attention after US President Joe Biden said the government is “very concerned about judicial regulation and Israel cannot continue down this path.”

A group of protesters in Tel Aviv closed the city’s central Ayalon highway, while Israeli police used mounted troops and water cannons to disperse the protesters.

Israeli media reported that the police, who intervened in the protesters, detained 19 people.
Thousands of protesters in West Jerusalem also gathered in front of the Presidential Residence to protest the court settlement.

LAPID: DANGER NOT PAST

Yair Lapid, leader of the main opposition Hay Futuro party and a former prime minister, reiterated his support for the protests against judicial regulation.

Lapid, in a statement on his Twitter account, shared photos of the show he attended and said: “We are still on call. The danger has not passed yet.” He made statements.

JURISDICTION WITHDRAWN ON MARCH 27

The “judicial reform” announced by Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin on January 5 includes changes such as limiting the powers of the Supreme Court and the power to have a say in judicial appointments.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on March 27 that he had postponed the judicial regulation, sparking mass protests and strikes across the country. (AA)