“National Day of Disruption”: Hundreds of thousands protest Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul
This is a developing story.
15.45: 11 Israelis were injured during clashes with the police in Tel Aviv, during protests against judicial reform, Israeli media reported.
12.45: Journalist and activist Oren Ziv says Israeli police are using stun grenades toward protestors “for the first time in years”.
14.15: Police have used water cannons against protestors in Tel Aviv. Prime Minister Netanyahu says “the right to protest is not the right to anarchy.”
Jerusalem24 – 22 protesters have been arrested and clashes have erupted between protesters and the Israeli police in Tel Aviv, as hundreds of thousands take to the streets marking the “National Day of Disruption” on several major highways, intersections, and different cities in Israel against the judicial overhaul by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government.
Demonstrators block off main highway leading from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in protest of the Israeli parliament’s plans to advance judicial reform bills
Organizers have vowed a ‘day of disruption’
Full story: https://t.co/0Cj2jkA1Wk
📹 Nadav Mulam pic.twitter.com/FEzLc373t2
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) March 1, 2023
For the first time in years Police use stun grenades towards Israeli protesters during anti government demo pic.twitter.com/KKQIVmJr3t
— Oren Ziv (@OrenZiv_) March 1, 2023
Demonstrations are also planned in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and other cities, with organizers promising many localized actions.
Tel Aviv’s central Dizengoff street at standstill on weekday morning during anti-govt protests/March as part of day of national disruption pic.twitter.com/YSHLqOlnDT
— Neri Zilber (@NeriZilber) March 1, 2023
The Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee headed by a member of the Knesset Smicha Rothaman approved on Wednesday morning a key part of the judicial overhaul that would restrict the High Court’s ability to override laws. According to the committee’s decision, High Court justices will be able to strike down laws only if 12 out of the 15 judges vote in favor of the decision. Members of Knesset will be able to override the court’s decision with the help of the so-called “override clause.”
According to Israeli media, members of the opposition boycotted the vote, which was approved by nine lawmakers who voted in favor.
The Israeli Knesset will also be voting on several bills today, as part of the coalition’s plan to weaken the Judicial system.
According to Haaretz, the Knesset will also hold two preliminary readings on bills before they go to the committee. The first is a bill legalizing the death penalty for those charged with terrorism, which will target Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
The second bill would restrict the attorney general’s ability to declare the prime minister unfit for office.
