Mass protests erupt in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa following judicial reform

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.

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.