Several tens of thousands of people demonstrate Monday afternoon around the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem against a justice reform project that they consider dangerous for democracy, before a vote on part of this law expected in the evening.
Like the previous Monday, a tide of Israeli flags, blue and white, swept over the gardens and streets around the Knesset, access to which is blocked by the police, according to AFP journalists on the spot.
Around 2 p.m. local time, the announced start of the demonstration, the crowd had already reached 30,000 people according to Israeli television channel 12.
One of the organizers told the press that he expected 100,000 people, while thousands of others, often from afar, continued to arrive.
“Fed up with the corrupt” or “Fascism will not pass”, could be read on banners brandished by the demonstrators, who chanted in particular “Israel is not a dictatorship!” or even “Democracy equals dialogue”.
“The state is in danger,” Dvir Bar, a 45-year-old protester from Holon, told AFP.
The justice reform project announced in early January by the government is mobilizing a large part of public opinion against it.
According to its detractors, the reform, by aiming to reduce the influence of the judiciary in favor of political power, jeopardizes the democratic character of the State of Israel.
“History will judge you”
This project “is a coup attempt aimed at transforming Israel into a dictatorship”, believes Mr. Bar.
“I am very worried because the changes proposed by the coalition will leave the State of Israel in a situation where my children cannot live,” said Adi Eran, a 47-year-old pediatrician and mother of three.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu turned those accusations against the protesters.
“In a democracy, the people vote in elections, and the representatives of the people vote here in the Knesset,” he said. “Unfortunately, the leaders of the protest are trampling on democracy. They do not respect the results of the elections, they do not respect the decision of the majority. »
For Mr. Netanyahu and his Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, the bill is necessary to restore a balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which the Prime Minister and his allies consider politicized.
In Tel Aviv, demonstrations take place every Saturday evening, bringing together tens of thousands of protesters – a sign of a massive mobilization across the size of the country – denouncing this project as a whole but also the general policy of the government. , formed in December by Mr. Netanyahu (right) with the help of far-right parties and ultra-Orthodox Jewish formations.
On February 13 already, a monster demonstration had taken place in front of the Parliament while the Commission of the laws began the examination of part of the articles of the law.
“It is the worst internal crisis that the State of Israel has known […] we will not give up,” said opposition leader Yaïr Lapid (center) inside parliament.
“History will not forgive you and history will judge you,” added former Defense Minister Benny Gantz, another centrist opposition figure.
The government’s plan includes the introduction of a “derogation” clause allowing Parliament to overrule certain decisions of the Supreme Court by a simple majority.
The reform also proposes changes in the process of appointing Supreme Court judges and reducing the powers of legal advisers within ministries.
For Mr. Netanyahu and his Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, the bill is necessary to restore a balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which the Prime Minister and his allies consider politicized.
“Divisions and Cracks”
“Without judicial oversight, the government can take all the political decisions it wants without any limitations,” denounces Kovi Skier, a 33-year-old protester from Givat Shmuel (center).
“He could take action against women, against Arabs, against religious […] Everyone will be affected, ”he adds, his daughter in his arms.
On Sunday evening, Israeli President Isaac Herzog — who plays a largely ceremonial role — voiced concern about “what is happening to Israeli society.”
“We are facing a crucial test. I see the divisions and cracks between us, which are getting deeper and deeper and more painful,” he said.
In north Tel Aviv, some 4,000 parents of school children demonstrated with their children, joined by members of the teaching staff.
Right-wing voices have also been raised against the reform, including former Shin Bet (internal security) chief Yoram Cohen, who told Army Radio on Monday that it was “impossible to change the nature of the state on the judicial plan without a broad agreement”.