Supporters of the government’s judicial reform plan to hold a “million-person rally” later this month to show ostensible public support for the controversial plan.
Polls have repeatedly shown that the government’s legislation as it stands is unpopular with the public, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in recent weeks to protest the plan.
The rally to support the reform is to take place the day after Israel’s Independence Day, which this year will take place on April 26.
The next session of the Knesset is due to start on April 30 – Justice Minister Yariv Levin said on Thursday that he would then resume efforts to pass the judicial reform, prompting claims that talks he had been they aim to reach a broad consensus on the legislation which is now frozen being used as a figure. leaf
Organizers of the pro-reform rally told the Walla news site on Friday, “We will shock the country – the reform will pass.”
“We will not stop the protests and we will only increase them to the million crowd that will give the president, the court and the opposition a clarification – no more,” said the organizers.
A protester carries a banner reading ‘the people chose judicial reform’ at a rally in support of the government’s proposed judicial reform, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
Coalition officials are expected to take part in the event, including members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, the leader of the Religious Elders Bezalel Smotrich, far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir of Otzma Yehudit, and the main architect of MK’s Religious Zionism plan. Simcha Rothman.
According to Channel 12 news, the rally will aim to show that “the nation wants” the reform while portraying its critics as “trying to burn the state.
The report said the rally will focus on the thousands of military reservists who have threatened not to show up for voluntary active reserve duty if the reform passes. Hundreds of pilots had already begun to be held back from attending some training sessions, a move that sparked widespread fears about Israel’s security.
Leaders of the reservist pilot protest announced on Tuesday that they would resume training and operational activity after the controversial legislative plan was put on hold, but indicated they remained wary of it being carried out to revive.
Thousands marched in support of the government’s judicial reform plans in Tel Aviv on Thursday, the second such rally since Netanyahu stalled the judicial legislation earlier this week amid growing public pressure.
Right-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s judicial reform, in Tel Aviv, March 30, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
Unhappy with the legislative blitz being broken, they held signs declaring “I’m a second-class citizen,” and “They’re stealing the election.”
The incident followed pro-government demonstrations in Jerusalem and elsewhere in the country on Monday, in which some extremist protesters attacked an Arab taxi driver, anti-reform protesters, passers-by and journalists.
The attorney general has warned that the coalition’s current legislative package — which would give the coalition almost total control over all judicial appointments, and severely restrict the High Court — would give the government almost unlimited power, with no institutional safeguards provide for individual rights or individual rights. for the democratic character of Israel.
