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In Pictures

Gallery|Protests

Israelis rally against Netanyahu government

Israelis took to the streets to protest plans by Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to change the legal system.

Israel protests
Protesters attend a rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new hard-right government in the coastal city of Tel Aviv. [Jack Guez/AFP]
Published On 15 Jan 202315 Jan 2023
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Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in central Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to implement changes to the country’s legal system and weaken the Supreme Court – a step that critics say will destroy the country’s democracy.

The protest presented an early challenge to Netanyahu and his ultranationalist national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, in office for just over two weeks.

Israeli media, citing police, said the crowd at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square swelled to at least 80,000 people, despite cool, rainy weather. Protesters, many covered by umbrellas, held Israeli flags and signs saying “Criminal Government”, “The End of Democracy” and other slogans.

No major unrest was reported, though Israeli media said small crowds scuffled with police as they tried to block a Tel Aviv highway.

Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has made the proposed changes to the country’s legal system a centrepiece of his agenda.

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The changes could help Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, evade conviction, or even make his trial disappear entirely. Since being indicted in 2019, Netanyahu has said the justice system is biased against him.

His government, which includes ultra-Orthodox and far-right nationalist parties, has presented a proposal that would weaken the Supreme Court by giving parliament the power to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote. It also wants to give parliament control over the appointment of judges and reduce the independence of legal advisers.

Netanyahu’s justice minister says unelected judges have too much power.

But opponents say the proposed changes will rob the judiciary of its independence and undermine Israeli democracy. Israeli opposition leaders, former attorney generals and the president of Israel’s Supreme Court have all spoken out against the plan.

Police beefed up their presence ahead of the march. Israeli media quoted police as saying officers had been instructed to be “very sensitive” and allow the protest to proceed peacefully but they also vowed a tough response to any vandalism or violent behaviour.

Smaller protests also took place in the cities of Jerusalem and Haifa.

Israel protests
Israeli media, citing police, said the crowd at Tel Aviv's Habima Square swelled to at least 80,000 people. [Amir Cohen/Reuters]
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Israel protests
Israelis protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new far-right coalition and its proposals that would reduce the powers of the Supreme Court, in Tel Aviv. [Amir Cohen/Reuters]
Israel protests
Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has made changing the country's legal system a centrepiece of his agenda. [Ronen Zvulun/Reuters]
Israel protests
Israeli protesters lift a Palestinian flag during a rally against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new hard-right government. [Ahmad Gharabli/AFP]
Israel protests
Netanyahu, already Israel's longest-serving prime minister, returned to power in late December to head the most right-wing government in the country's history. [Jack Guez/AFP]
Israel protests
Israeli security forces and protesters face off during a rally against Netanyahu's new hard-right government. [Jack Guez/AFP]
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Israel protests
In office for just over two weeks, Netanyahu's government has presented a proposal that would weaken the Supreme Court by giving parliament the power to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote. [Ilan Rosenberg/Reuters]


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