Thousands Rally Across Country in Protest of Legal Reform for 28th Week in a Row
15.07.2023
In a continued show of solidarity, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country today in protest of the legal reform. This marks the 28th week in a row that the demonstrations have taken place. The protests, which began in the afternoon, included gatherings in various cities and intersections, with the main demonstration being held on Kaplan Boulevard in Tel Aviv. A march also took place from Givatayim Mall to join the demonstration in Tel Aviv.
One notable incident occurred when a group of reform supporters blocked the entrance to the Beit Shaarim settlement in the Jezreel Valley, where protest leader Prof. Shakma Bresler resides.
The purpose of today’s demonstration is to oppose the upcoming transfer of the law to cancel the grounds of reasonableness. This law, if passed, will limit the authority of the court to overturn decisions made by the government, ministers, and prime minister on the basis of lack of reasonableness. The law passed its first reading approximately a week and a half ago, and is now being prepared for the second and third readings in the Constitution Committee.
Organizers of the protest have announced that demonstrations are expected to take place in more than 150 centers throughout the country. Prominent speakers at the demonstration in Tel Aviv include former Minister of Justice Dan Meridor, protest leader Prof. Shakma Bresler, Lt. Col. Ron Sharaf from the “Arms Brothers” group, and independent journalist Or-Lee Barlev. Additionally, singer Hami Rodner will make an appearance.
In a bid to amplify their message, organizers have declared that there will be a series of “resistance days” starting from Tuesday. This announcement follows a previous call for opponents of the protest to participate in a “day of resistance” on the upcoming Monday.
Expressing the urgency and importance of the moment, organizers have stated, “the moment of truth has come – the time to protect the house is now.” They added, “We are standing just before the destruction of the third house. On the eve of Tisha B’Av, it seems that the coalition has decided to destroy the house. The only ones who can prevent the destruction are the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have come out in unprecedented numbers to defend the house. This is a war that must be won.”
The demonstrations and call for resistance highlight the deep divisions within Israeli society regarding the legal reform and its implications. As the debate continues, tensions remain high, and the outcome of the legal reform process hangs in the balance.