Protests against controversial judicial reform in Israel have been going on for 13 weeks. After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who opposes judicial reform, the public took to the streets again yesterday. The demonstrators, who went down to the streets with Israeli flags in their hands, closed the Ayalon Highway in the capital Tel Aviv and set fire to traffic. While the tension between the police and the demonstrators increased in places, the police intervened the demonstrators with pressurized water in some regions.
SHIPMENTS STOPPED
Flights were halted at Israel’s international airport, Ben Gurion, due to the strike launched in response to the government’s judicial regulation.
EXPLANATION BY NETANYAHU
According to the news of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Organization (KAN), which is based on prime ministerial sources, Netanyahu plans to announce that he has suspended the judicial regulation in the morning.
The call of Defense Minister Gallant was also supported by the Likud Party. Likud Party MPs Yuli Edelstein and David Bitan joined Gallant, calling for a halt to the bill and for dialogue.
HERZOG: ‘OUR SECURITY, OUR ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IS AT DANGER’
After the street demonstrations, President Herzog made a written statement on the subject. Emphasizing that the security of the country is under threat, Herzog said:
“Last night, we witnessed extremely heavy scenes. I appeal to the Prime Minister, the government and the members of the coalition. The entire population is acting with deep concern. Our security, economy and society are at risk. The eyes of the entire Israeli people are on you. The eyes of the entire Jewish people are on you. The eyes of the whole world are on you. “
Addressing the government, Herzog said, “As per my responsibility, for the unity of the Israeli people, I urge you to immediately stop the legal process (on judicial reform)”.
Controversial JUDICIAL REFORM
Minister of Justice Yariv Levin announced on January 5 that they were planning a “judicial reform” that would limit the powers of the Supreme Court and reduce the influence of the judiciary on the selection of judges.
The moves of the coalition government led by Netanyahu to transfer some of the powers of the judiciary to the Parliament caused tensions between the government and the Israeli judiciary, especially the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of Israel, which acts as the highest judicial authority in the country, has the power to overturn the laws passed by the Assembly on the grounds that they are inconsistent with “fundamental laws” accepted as the draft constitution.
In the judicial regulation announced by the Netanyahu government, it was stated that the Supreme Court’s authority to overturn the laws passed by the Parliament would be largely taken away.
The judicial regulation of the government, which restricts the powers of the judiciary and envisages the power to have a say in judicial appointments, was heavily criticized within Israel and internationally.
The alternative bill presented by President Isaac Herzog, warning the parties of “civil war”, was also rejected by the government.
Source: AA