For the sixth week in a row, tens of thousands demonstrated against the draft amendment to the judicial system.

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Edited by| Alexander Yanxinana

Politics section CJ reporter

12 February 2023

Tel Aviv-Israel

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       Israelis on Saturday in Tel Aviv and other cities of the Hebrew state protested against a draft amendment to the judicial system sought by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which opponents say threatens Israel's democratic values.

To the beat of drums, demonstrators chanted "democracy","shame, shame" and"we will not surrender", holding up Israeli and Palestinian flags, and some also raised rainbow LGBT banners.

Netanyahu returned to power after the November elections at the head of a coalition with far-right and ultra-religious parties.

The proposed amendments to the judicial system would allow the Israeli parliament to annul any decision of the Supreme Court with a simple majority of 61 deputies in the 120-seat assembly.

It would also tighten the grip of politicians on the judicial system and the mechanism for appointing judges.

The first reading of the bill is scheduled for Monday.

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• Read more| ISRAEL CONTINUES ITS PROTEST AGAINST GOV'T JUDICIAL REFORM PLAN
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         The leaders of the protest movement opposing the draft amendment to the judicial system called for a strike on Monday.

The protests have turned into an event that has been repeated every Saturday evening since late December with the inauguration of Netanyahu's new government, which is considered the most right-wing in Israel's history.

In what appeared to be a response to expectations that the number of participants in the protests on Monday would decrease during the announced strike, Saturday's demonstration looked more crowded compared to last week's action.

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         While the authorities did not announce any official figures for the number of demonstrators, Israeli media reported the participation of about 50 thousand demonstrators, noting that the liberal newspaper Haaretz reported the participation of about 75 thousand in the movement.

Demonstrations were also held in other major cities, including in front of the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem and in the northern city of Haifa, according to Israeli media.

In 2019, Netanyahu refused to step down after becoming the first sitting prime minister to be indicted.