More than 80,000 Israelis protests Netanyahu government amid proposed judicial reforms

By Mucahit Aydemir

TEL AVIV (AA) - More than 80,000 people took to the streets Saturday to protest the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding proposed judicial reforms.

Police said crowds were in Habima Square in the center of Tel Aviv which has witnessed anti-government demonstrations for two straight Saturdays.

Among the demonstrators were several opposition politicians including Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

Israelis in West Jerusalem and Haifa also joined demonstrations this week, although in smaller numbers.

Thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Israeli Presidential Residence in West Jerusalem and Netanyahu’s official residence.

The first mass protest against the far-right government that took office earlier this year was held in Tel Aviv last Saturday with nearly 10,000 demonstrators.

Michael, 24, who did not want to reveal his last name, was among those participating in West Jerusalem. He told Anadolu that the government was “trying to destroy the authority of the Supreme Court” with the new judicial regulation.

He described the reform that the government is trying to pass as “completely absurd.” He added that democracy needs “judges and members of the Supreme Court who will defend everyone's rights.”

Another protestor, Sharon, 25, said the high judiciary should not be “in the hands of the coalition government and should remain impartial.”

The Judiciary, Sharon said, should not be made up of people with “prejudices.”

She described the Netanyahu government as a “dark government."

The proposed changes will 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.