1,500 people demand last-ditch halt to judicial reforms at Tower Bridge protest

More than 1,500 people descended on Tower Bridge on Sunday to demand for a last-ditch halt to proposed judicial reforms that would limit the judiciary in Israel. 

The show of opposition from a largely Israeli crowd of expats was one of the largest demos in the capital since the proposals were brought forward by Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition that includes far right politicians.

At midday on Monday Israel time, the Knesset is set to vote on limiting the use of ‘reasonableness’ by government, in what would be the first major plank of the judicial overhaul to become law. Warning of a ‘national emergency’ President Herzog was still trying to secure a compromise to prevent the vote tonight.

Speaking as a giant banner calling to ‘Save Israeli Democracy’ was unfurled from the iconic London Bridge, Sharon Shochat of Defend Israeli Democracy UK said: “Today is a crucial day in Israel’s fight to defend itself from its own government with the coming Knesset vote. Tens of thousands of Israelis marched to Jerusalem over the last few days in protest – today we are marching here, Israelis and British Jews, together on Tower Bridge.

“This attack on democracy is now fought not only by Israelis but also by Jewish communities globally. We will not allow Israel to be hijacked by the fanatics!”

As opponents of the overhaul have done in demo starting over the last six months, protestors chanted ‘shame’ as they gathered on either side of the bridge.

“Israel’s democracy is under a brutal attack,” said Michal Neta, an Israeli living in London. “It’s the moral obligation of every Jew all over the world to  stand up and protect Israeli democracy. Having a strong, moral and democratic Jewish state is an existential issue for every Jew. We should never take Israel for granted.”

Asaf Gazit, another London-based Israeli, said: “We might be in London but our hearts and minds are with Israelis marching in Jerusalem. We are here for our friends, our families and those we love back home and it breaks our heart to see police brutality against people back home standing up for democracy.”

A small number of British Jews also joined the rally including Dr Sheldon Stone who said: “We have so much skin in the game we had to come out. This isn’t just an Israeli problem, it’s a Jewish problem.”

This evening, mass protests by both sides of the argument took place in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.