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Protests by angry Israelis continue against the reformed government

  • International
  • Lead News
  • 19 March, 2023 10:04:10

Photo: Collected

International Desk: Israeli citizens have once again protested against the hardline government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday (March 18) as part of a series of protests, mainly against Netanyahu's new government's judicial reform plan. The news agency Reuters reported this information in a report on Sunday (March 19). According to the report, Israelis protested on Saturday for the 11th week in a row, and the streets of many cities in the territory were practically packed that day. The protesters oppose the hard-right Netanyahu government's plan to curtail the Supreme Court's powers. Critics say the Israeli government's plan threatens judicial independence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, has said his goal is to maintain balance between the branches of the Israeli government.

While a religious-nationalist coalition with allies holds a majority in the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu's planned judicial reforms have raised concerns at home and abroad. Critics of the Netanyahu government's judicial reform plan say the reform plan will harm Israel's democracy. But Netanyahu's government says its planned changes will bring good results for voters. Israel's new government recently unveiled a plan to overhaul Israel's judicial system and weaken the Supreme Court, according to media reports. If these reforms are implemented, it will be easier for Israel's parliament to overturn Supreme Court rulings. But critics say the Netanyahu government's reform plan will cripple Israel's judicial independence, encourage corruption, erode minority rights and undermine the credibility of Israel's court system. In addition, the protesters have been claiming that this new reform plan will threaten Israel's check and balance system.

Basically, if the law is passed, the powers of the Supreme Court against the legislature and the executive will be limited. At the same time, the legislators of the Parliament will have the decision-making power in the appointment of judges. Large numbers of Israelis have been protesting every Saturday since early January after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu targeted the Supreme Court for government reform. In continuation of this, protests were held in the territory for the 11th consecutive week on Saturday. Protests in Israel have intensified as Netanyahu's government moves toward approval of the reform plan, Reuters reported. This has adversely affected the economy and the Israeli currency has lost some value. In this situation, Israeli President Isaac Herzog appealed to suspend the judicial reform plan and presented an alternative plan last Wednesday.

But Prime Minister Netanyahu quickly rejected it. A 47-year-old man named Ronen Shaik took part in the protest in Tel Aviv on Saturday. He alleged that the Netanyahu government wanted to destroy the country and that he participated in the protests to protect the country's democracy. "I came to Tel Aviv with my friends to demonstrate against the planned judicial reforms," ​​he said. Dalia Yosef, a 72-year-old protester in Tel Aviv, said, "I am here with the people of Israel to demonstrate against the revolution, against the change of our state." Demonstrations are being held. The Israeli prime minister is currently on trial in court in three corruption cases and has denied all allegations against him.

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