(MENAFN) Over the weekend, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv to demand that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abandon his proposed judicial overhaul. Although Netanyahu has suspended the reforms and pledged to negotiate with the opposition, protesters view this move as a ploy.
According to Israeli media outlets, between 140,000 and 175,000 people attended the rally, while protest organizers claimed that the headcount was 250,000 in Tel Aviv and 450,000 throughout the country, making it one of the largest demonstrations in Israeli history. The demonstration was organized by the 'Umbrella Movement of Resistance against Dictatorship in Israel,' which released a statement saying that the proposed judicial overhaul threatens the very foundations of Israeli democracy.
During the protest, groups of demonstrators blocked the Ayalon Highway twice, causing major disruptions. The police used water cannons to clear the road, which underscores the intensity of the protest.
The proposed judicial overhaul has been a contentious issue in Israel since January, and the country has been rocked by continuous protests ever since. If implemented, the legal changes would allow Israel's parliament to override Supreme Court rulings with a simple majority vote, grant the government more power in appointing judges, and limit the court's ability to review legislation that it considers "unreasonable." Many critics of the proposed reform argue that it poses a significant threat to the rule of law and undermines the independence of the judiciary in Israel.
In conclusion, the massive demonstration in Tel Aviv highlights the deep-seated concerns that many Israelis have about the proposed judicial overhaul. The government's decision to suspend the reforms and negotiate with the opposition has not quelled the unrest. Instead, it has sparked a new wave of protests, underscoring the growing divide between the government and its citizens.
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