Israel: Tens of thousands protest government bill to restrict Supreme Court power

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – An estimated 70,000 Israeli citizens took to the streets of Jerusalem Monday in protest at the controversial right-wing government bill that would curtail the Supreme Court’s ability to rule on Israel’s Basic Laws and would place the selection of judges in the hands of politicians, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports. Despite the protests, however, the bill passed its first reading by 63-47 votes in the Knesset on Tuesday.

The Knesset vote on Tuesday was the culmination of weeks of “angry wrangling between proponents and opponents of the overhaul,” TOI reported. “Part of the criticism of the reforms, besides changing the longstanding balance of power between branches of government, surrounds Netanyahu and the corruption trials against him,” TOI noted.

A day before Tuesday’s crucial vote, thousands of protestors convened outside the Knesset changing “De-mo-cra-cy,” demanding the government shelve its bill, TOI reported.

Anger at the bill was so great that demonstrators even surrounded lawmakers’ homes, trying to stop them from leaving. This particular action was condemned not only by the government but also by the opposition.

Protests were held around the country on Monday as well, with demonstrators blocking major roads, TOI said. Parents and students also protested outside schools on Monday morning.

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