Knesset passes 1st vote on judicial reforms as mass demonstrations continue

Israel’s parliament the Knesset passed the first of three votes on the government’s controversial judicial reform plan aimed at weakening and politicising the High Court of Justice. 

Prior to the vote, chaotic scenes unfolded at the Knesset plenum with opposition lawmakers wrapped themselves in Israeli flags, shouting at the government which led to the security guards to forcibly remove several lawmakers.

The two bills that passed the first of three hearings give the government control over the appointment of High Court judges and allow parliament to override High Court rulings, passing any law it wants with a simple majority of 61 votes.

Outside the Knesset, Israeli media reported that between 75,000 and 100,000 people demonstrated against the judicial reforms. Thousands were seen demonstrating in other cities across Israel, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Ra’anana, and Zikhron Ya’akov.

In Tel Aviv, teachers and students were protesting at Tel Aviv University, while parents and children blocked a main road in the north of the city.

Prime Minister Netanyahu accused the demonstrators of “destroying democracy” and not accepting election results, calling on the opposition to engage in a dialogue.

Former Defense Minister and leader of National Unity party, Benny Gantz walked back his previous offer to negotiate over the reforms, saying he “sees no point.”

“For many of us this will be the first tearing off apart from the Israeli society. History will judge Netanyahu,” Gantz said.

Lapid echoed Gantz’s warning, saying Israel’s was making the first step toward becoming a “non-democratic” state.

“There was no real discussion about the terrible damage (this reform) would cause to the economy and to the livelihood of each of us, nor about the danger to security, or to the fact that it is tearing the people of Israel apart,” Lapid said.

Protesters blocked main highways on Monday morning while some attempted to barricade Likud lawmaker Tali Gottlieb and Religious Zionism lawmaker Simcha Rhotmam in their homes, drawing condemnation from both Netanyahu and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid.

“This is not our way,” Lapid said. Gottlieb raged against the protesters blocking her home, calling them “wild animals” while Rhotman called it an “anti-democratic” move.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir referred to the protesters who blocked the highways as “anarchists” who were trying to “paralyse the country.”

The mass demonstrations across the country have increased in size and frequency in recent weeks, with Jerusalem and Tel Aviv becoming the centre stage on Monday’s and Saturday’s respectively.

Criticism and warnings against the reforms have also grown among prominent Israelis from left to right, with former Netanyahu allies speaking out against it.

National Security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi is the latest senior government official to call for a dialogue with the opposition over the reforms, saying the demonstrators shouldn’t be labeled as “left-wing” or “anarchists”, like Ben-Gvir has done repeatedly.

I have “many friends who are not anarchists and not extreme leftists, and they are definitely concerned by the judicial issue,” he said.

Channel 12 reported that the leader of the Shin Bet intelligence agency warned Justice Minister Yariv Levin that the potential of violence was growing, asking him to help calm the situation.

The warnings of a looming civil war and the risk of violence have been made by Gantz, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, former prime, defence and justice ministers as well as former IDF chiefs.

Netanyahu’s son, Yair, spread a conspiracy on Monday, accusing the Shin Bet of trying to topple his dad.

“The Shin Bet is involved in a coup against the prime minister! Investigative committee now! These people need to stand trial and be sent to prison for many years,” Yair Netanyahu tweeted, only to delete it later.