Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Israel

Israelis, who hold massive demonstrations every Saturday night against judicial regulation by the far-right coalition government led by Netanyahu, retook squares across the country in the 27th week of protests.

More than 100,000 Israelis participated in demonstrations in many parts of the country, especially in cities like Tel Aviv, West Jerusalem, Haifa, Birussebi and Rehovot.

The protest movement against Netanyahu announced that some 180,000 protesters attended the protest in Tel Aviv.

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.

The protesters, who often chanted “democracy” slogans with Israeli flags, carried banners, banners and photos criticizing far-right politicians in the coalition government. The protesters said: “Resist. The most important thing is not to be afraid.” he unfurled a giant banner.

Historian Yuval Noah Harari, author of the book “Sapiens”, who participated in the protests here as a speaker, said the Netanyahu government divided the Jewish community around the world. Harari stated that “the Netanyahu government must stop the coup, otherwise they will stop the country.”

Some anti-Israel protesters in Tel Aviv also chanted slogans against the Israeli army’s attack on Jenin, in the northern occupied West Bank, with banners reading “The occupation has no democracy” and “Palestinian lives matter.”

INTAKE INTERVENTION

Some protesters blocked Tel Aviv’s main artery, the Ayalon Highway, in only one direction. The Israeli police used TOMA and force against the protesters who blocked the road. In some streets of Tel Aviv, the police intervened with units mounted on the protesters. At some points there were clashes between demonstrators and the police.

On the other hand, thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Presidential Residence in West Jerusalem. The family of autistic Palestinian Iyad Hayri Hallak, who was shot dead by police in occupied East Jerusalem in 2020, also attended the demonstration in West Jerusalem. Likewise, a group of protesters in Tel Aviv asked: “Who killed Iyad?” unfolded banner.

The Israeli court acquitted the police officer who shot Hallak this week on the grounds that he “made a mistake” and “fought back”.

THE JURISDICTION THAT CAUSED THE CRISIS

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.

Netanyahu announced on March 27 that he was postponing the court ruling, sparking growing mass protests and strikes across the country.

However, Netanyahu announced that he would put judicial regulation back on the agenda after Parliament approved the 2023-2024 budget at the end of May.

Following the deadlock in negotiations on judicial regulation between Netanyahu’s coalition and the opposition, the government recently pushed the button again in the field of judicial regulation.

The government approved a bill this week that would lift the control of the Supreme Court over the government.

Tel Aviv Police Chief Ami Eshed has resigned, citing government pressure to force police to respond more forcefully to the protests.

The protest movement in Israel, which opposes judicial regulation and other right-wing policies of the Netanyahu government, has continued its demonstrations throughout the country for the past 6 months. (AA)