Israel: “Day of Disruption” kicks off with major protests against government’s judicial reform plans

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The six-month-long mass protests in Israel against the government’s plans for judicial reform intensified into a planned “Day of Disruption” on Tuesday after part of the planned new legislation passed the first of three stages in the Knesset on Monday night, i24 News reports.

On Tuesday, protesters blocked intercity highways, held disruptive demonstrations at Ben Gurion international airport, and warned that the country would be shut down if the government’s proposed reforms, perceived by protestors as anti-democratic and authoritarian, go through, i24News said.

While also calling for a general labor strike, protesters on Tuesday began to block major roads, including to the airport, at around 6.30 am local time, i24News reports. Protest organizers stated that they were planning demonstrations at the Israeli President’s Residence in Jerusalem and the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Tel Aviv as well.

Warning of the dangers of an escalation at Ben Gurion, which saw 10,000 protesters on Tuesday, the Airports Authority said in a statement: “The switch from routine to emergency can happen within minutes. In the course of its preparation, the Airports Authority, in conjunction with the police, have defined a traffic route that will remain open for emergencies. The blocking of access roads to Ben Gurion Airport and the roads within the airport, no matter the reason, could end in disaster and in an international catastrophe. Ben Gurion must not be blocked.”

Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai said in a separate statement that “all means and units” were activated to maintain public safety, i24News. Dozens of protesters have been arrested for disrupting public order.

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