Israelis organise Rally for Democracy in London
Saturday's protests, to show opposition to the new Israeli government's attempts to undermine the independence of the judiciary, will take place in 18 cities around the world
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Israelis now living in London and 18 other cities around the world are staging a Rally for Democracy at the weekend.
The protests, which take place on Saturday afternoon, aim to capitalise on the massive demos that have taken place in Israel in protest at Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government’s attempts to undermine the independence of the Judiciary and limit the Supreme Court’s ability to protect minorities.
Similar events are taking place in Basel, Berlin, Boston, Cambridge, Chicago, Los Angeles, Madrid, Miami, Munich, New York, Paris, Rome, San Francisco, Seattle, Sydney, Toronto, Vancouver, and Washington DC.
All events are organised by Israelis who live locally in these cities from across the political and religious spectrum.
Because the rally is designed to coincide with further protests in Israel, and in Europe, the London event takes place “during the final hours of Shabbat.”
The New Israel Fund UK and Yachad are among the communal groups to offer support for the protests.
Organisers say future events and campaigns will be open to all local Israelis and supporters of Israel, including those who are Shabbat Observant.
The Rally for Democracy will be under the banners of, Defend Israeli Democracy, Keep the Court Supreme, If the Courthouse can’t judge you, history will, and Criminals should be in prison, not in government.
The growing and broad opposition to this government and their changes to the democratic institutions of the State has included former head of the Shin Bet Yuval Diskin; Karnit Flug and Jacob Frenkel, former governors at the Bank of Israel; hundreds of former Attorney Generals and legal advisors to the government;
Omer Regev, one of the rally organisers said:”We are concerned about what’s to happen with our country. Fundamentalist extremists, led by a Prime Minister facing a corruption trial, are trying to abolish the Supreme Court’s power and establish an unrestrained government.
“They talk about finally ruling with power, about the perfect Jewish family as God intended, and other things that we thought belonged to centuries the world wants to forget. A cynical Prime Minister who only cares about saving himself from a trial is willing to give them anything.
“This protest is a small gesture to our brothers and sisters in Israel who protest against darkness. We hope we will help to raise the next leaders, to shake those who don’t want to believe what is happening, and maybe even change something”.
Anat Shavit, living in Cambridge and working in the biopharma industry:”I protest for Israeli Democracy, as I believe in freedom, equality, and human rights, and I see, with great pain and shock, those values under attack by the current Israeli government.
“The planned changes and legislation will produce a de facto authoritarian regime, and this is something I believe the vast majority of Israelis do not support.
“We will keep protesting and supporting our families and friends back in Israel, and believe the true spirit of Israel, the one reflected in the Declaration of Independence, will prevail”
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