Major demonstrations and disruptions to traffic, education and business took place on Wednesday across the Zionist entity as opponents of a contentious judicial overhaul stepped up their fight against the government of Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu.
Protesters blocked roads, disrupted trains and marched in several cities across the Zionist entity as part of a so-called “day of disruption” against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul plan.
The day’s demonstrations kicked off when a group of military reservists blocked a route between Al-Quds (Jerusalem) and Tel Aviv. Occupation police arrived soon after to clear the protesters and open the road to traffic, The Times of Israel reported.
Meanwhile, protesters blocked passengers at Tel Aviv train stations from boarding and disembarking from trains. Marches were also held outside dozens of educational institutions in Tel Aviv.
Intersections from the north and south were also blocked for traffic as protesters sat down holding signs and calling on the ongoing blitz of legislation to stop.
Organizers revealed yesterday that several other protests were planned in secret in an attempt to create disruptions throughout the Zionist entity in various ways. They added that throughout the day, protestors will also demonstrate outside the homes of MKs and ministers, including Netanyahu’s residence in occupied Al-Quds.
Police Response
In response, so-called ‘National Security’ Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir instructed the occupation police to prevent road blockages by what the protesters, whom he labeled “anarchists.”
“We will not allow a civil uprising and anarchists to block major roads,” Ben-Gvir said, as quoted by Ynet.
Twenty-two Israelis were detained by police at various protests around the central region.
Far-right Otzma Yehudit leader Ben Gvir has received increased powers over Israeli police policy and has urged a tough hand against the anti-government protests.
The Israeli protest movement urged police on Tuesday to “ignore” Ben Gvir, calling him a “schoolyard bully.” The organizers called on cops to “secure the democratic protest and give [Ben Gvir] spare time to do the only thing he is knowledgeable in — making TikTok videos.”
Additional Bills
Alongside the protests, additional bills will be advanced Wednesday as part of the judicial reform, including controversial laws, Israeli media reported.
The Constitution, Law, Justice Committee will vote on a proposed law that will combine the override law and the judiciary law, which allows judicial review of other laws, Ynet reported.
According to the judiciary law clauses that are expected to be voted on, the court will be able to invalidate laws only with the agreement of 13 out of 15 judges in the panel.
The override law will make the Knesset able to “immunize” a law in advance from judicial review, even if it contradicts basic laws, as long as it is approved by a majority of 61MKs.
Source: Israeli media
