After 27 consecutive weeks of massive demonstrations against the changes proposed by the government in relation to the judiciary, the protest in Israel takes on a more militant and tense character. The water cannons employees this Tuesday by the Police managed to disperse the Israeli demonstrators who took several hours the emblematic Kaplan street in Tel Aviv but not the discontent in broad sectors convinced that the reform plan, now partially resumed, will end judicial independence.
He blockage of major arteries roads and the great demonstration in the Ben Gurion Airport they sought to increase the pressure on the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to freeze the legislative initiative that since its announcement in January by Justice Minister Yariv Levin has deepened the division after five elections in four yearsit has reopened latent wounds, it has weakened the economy and it has damaged the relationship with the Biden Administration.
Con 64 deputies in favor and 56 against in the Knesset, last night the government coalition achieved approval at first reading of the text of the law that nullifies (or reduces if moderated on the third ballot before the summer recess) the “reasonableness standard” as a resource for judges to overthrow decisions, appointments and dismissals by elected leaders.
As a reply, tens of thousands of Israelis came out armed with the flags of their country to the streets to carry out marches, traffic blockades that led to clashes with the police, several injured and dozens of detainees and a huge demonstration, for second time in eight days, in the main terminal of the international airport. With 80.000 personas Leaving this Tuesday through the main Israeli gate to the world in the middle of holidays, this protest action is not popular even among many of those who oppose the reform. Nadav Galon, one of the organizers, knows this but explains that “the protest at the airport puts pressure on the government and is an act of patriotism to protect the democracy against the threat of radicals”.
Government accuse the protesters that they obstructed roads to “break the law and cause chaos”, he replies that “democracy will be strengthened with the reforms” and emphasizes that most of his proposals were frozen.
Kaplan street in Tel Aviv again demonstrated this Tuesday as the liberal and militant stronghold of oppositionwhich goes beyond the judicial arena, to the Government formed by a conservative partyof the ultranationalists and two religious. “We are here to return the country to the liberal and straight path. These numerous and peaceful demonstrations are the response to the undemocratic decisions and statements that we hear from the government,” Oren tells us in Kaplan where many of the protesters belong to the High Tech. Israel’s most important sector has suffered a 68% reduction in investments in the first semester of the executive (January-June) compared to the same period in 2022, mainly due to internal uncertainty.