Israeli police arrest 13 protesters amid rallies against judicial overhaul

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli police on Thursday arrested 13 protesters during rallies against government plans to introduce judicial changes.

A police statement said seven protesters were arrested in West Jerusalem over suspicion of their chaotic behavior, which included the closure of a facility with iron wires.

Six other protesters were taken into custody in central Israel over what the police said their disorderly conduct and blocking of roads.

Israeli public broadcaster KAN also reported that reservist soldiers from the Israeli Navy blocked the way of a container tanker from docking in Haifa port.

Thousands of Israelis took part in protests in different areas in Israel on Thursday against government plans to introduce judicial changes, seen by the opposition as an attempt to reduce the powers of the judicial authority in favor of the executive authority.

Police said it deployed 3,000 personnel to prevent the blocking of main roads, especially those leading to Israel's main airport in Tel Aviv.

KAN cited National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as saying that the police will not allow the blocking of main roads, including the ones leading to Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv.

Proposed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the judicial overhaul, if enacted, would be the most radical change ever in the system of government in Israel.

The planned changes would severely limit the power of the Supreme Court of Justice, give the government the power to choose judges, and end the appointment of legal advisers to ministries by the attorney general.

However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, insists that his judicial plan would enhance democracy.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar