Israeli demonstrators have continuously packed the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities nationwide for eleven straight weeks, with tens of thousands gathering on Saturday, March 18 to rally against the government’s judicial reform plans.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is moving forward with a parliamentary majority toward ratification of the controversial overhaul of Israel’s judiciary.
The plans to weaken the powers of the Israeli Supreme Court are supported by Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition and allies.
A large and vocal percentage of Israeli citizens, who Israeli media reported were filling streets in over 100 cities on Saturday, are concerned that the reforms will compromise judicial independence by increasing the power politicians have over the courts.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog asked Wednesday that the overhaul be postponed while presenting an alternative plan to the changes, but the appeal was rejected by the prime minister.
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