Mass protests erupt in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa following judicial reform
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Israeli police "not to hurt" protestors.
Thousands of demonstrators blocked highways and roads in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv after Israel’s parliament passed the first judicial reform on Monday.
Police were heavily deployed in both cities, with police officers on horses and water cannons used against demonstrators. In Jerusalem, anti-reform activists demonstrated outside Knesset from early morning, using their bodies to block roads leading to parliament.
Following the passing the “reasonableness law”, which bars the High Court from striking down government decisions and appointments of ministers deemed “unreasonable,” demonstrators in Jerusalem began marching from toward Knesset, blocking the central Begin Road.
Demonstrators marching toward the Supreme Court on Begin Road in Jerusalem following parliament’s passing of a law that will curb Supreme Court’s judicial oversight over government decisions.
Credit: Ro'ee Castro pic.twitter.com/1igeVhTq7v
— Jotam Confino (@mrconfino) July 24, 2023
Police were documented several times using force against demonstrators. “A short while ago, hundreds of protesters began an unauthorised march, blocking roads towards Begin highway in Jerusalem. During this incident, they forcefully breached the road, posing risks to themselves and other road users, and obstructed the flow of traffic near the Kiryat Moshe interchange,” a statement from police said.
According to Ha’aretz Daily, police used skunk water against demonstrators in Jerusalem for the first time since the mass demonstrations broke out six months ago.
Former Shin Bet chief Nada Argaman was among those participating in the mass rally in Jerusalem, telling KAN Public Broadcaster that Netanyahu is “captured by the hands of a coalition that has lost touch with the people. We will fight with all the tools at our disposal.”
Spontaneous protests also broke out in Haifa, with hundreds taking to the streets.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on Israeli Police “not to hurt” protestors.
“A line was crossed today,” Lapid wrote on his Twitter account, and “the hearts of Israeli patriots are broken. Remember, these are your brothers and sisters, lovers of Israel, whose world just collapsed on them. The protest is the soul of democracy. Don’t harm it, don’t harm them,” Lapid wrote on Twitter.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
