Over 100,000 in Tel Aviv anti-gov't demonstration

• Author: Nitsan Shafir
• Published date: 21 January 2023
• Publication title: Globes (Rishon LeZion, Israel)

Large demonstrations were also held in Haifa, Jerusalem, and Beersheva, to protest against the government's plans to overhaul the judicial system in Israel, including curtailing the powers of the Supreme Court and domination by the ruling coalition of the selection of judges. The protesters see the measures as degrading democratic government in Israel and undermining the separation of powers. The demonstrations are taking place for the third successive week

Adv. Avi Himi, chairperson of the Israel Bar Association, told demonstrators in Tel Aviv, "The main story here is our freedoms, citizens of the country. The country doesn't need a legal putsch, but a constitution."

Author David Grossman, also speaking in Tel Aviv, said, "Israeli is engaged in a fateful struggle over its character, over its democratic face, over human rights, over artistic freedom, over unfettered public broadcasting. Our struggle is against cynical politicians, some of them corrupt, who are determined to redefine justice one-sidedly and anti-democratically, in a coup."

Former chief of staff and minister of defense Moshe Ya'alon said at the Kaplan Street demonstration, "A country in which the prime minister appoints all the judges and is responsible for...