By Oyintari Ben
Thousands of Israelis have come to the streets to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government’s intentions, which they claim endanger democracy and freedoms.
Days after the inauguration of the most right-wing and religiously conservative administration in the nation’s 74-year history, demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv. It has broad reforms in mind, including diminishing the judiciary’s authority and growing illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Signs with the messages “Democracy in jeopardy” and “Together against fascism and apartheid” were carried by protesters.
“Housing, Livelihood, Hope” was written on another banner. Rainbow flags were carried by some protesters.
Members of Israel’s Knesset who identify as left-wing and Palestinian spearheaded the demonstration.
They criticized Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who revealed the government’s long-promised revamp of the legal system on Wednesday with the intention of undermining the country’s Supreme Court.
The plan, according to critics, will upend Israel’s system of checks and balances and damage its democratic institutions by granting the next ruling coalition full authority, upending Israel’s legal system and undermining its institutions of democracy.
Danny Simon, 77, a demonstrator from Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, stated, “We are extremely frightened that our country is going to lose the democracy and we are heading to a dictatorship just for reasons of one person who wants to get rid of his law trial.”
He was referring to Netanyahu, who was charged with corruption in 2021 but the prime leader has consistently refuted the claims.
Since 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 to 2021, Netanyahu, 73, has presided over Israel longer than any other prime minister in its history.
Along with some far-right figures, such as one who formerly housed a portrait of a murderer who murdered dozens of Palestinian worshippers in his home, his new government includes a legislator who acknowledged to tax cheating late last year.
On Saturday, demonstrators advocated harmony and tolerance between the nation’s Jewish and Palestinian citizens.
