Jerusalem: The 28th week of protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to reform the nation's judiciary saw tens of thousands of demonstrators fill the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night. Leaders of the protests vowed that more "days of disruption" would follow.
An important aspect of the overhaul received preliminary approval from Netanyahu's administration earlier this week, revitalizing the grassroots movement. Before the bill becomes law, it still needs to pass two additional votes, which are anticipated by the end of the month.
The grassroots movement has come to rely on Saturday night demonstrations, but this week's was bigger than usual.
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Protesters in Tel Aviv unfurled a sizable banner that read "SOS." They threw powdered paint into the air, streaking pink and orange across it. Women dressed as "Handmaids"—characters from the dystopian book and TV series "The Handmaid's Tale"—took to the streets once more. Their startling presence is intended to emphasize the point that women may lose their rights if the overhaul is approved. After Netanyahu's parliamentary coalition advanced a bill that is a part of the overhaul on Tuesday, protesters blocked major highways and interfered with operations at the nation's main international airport. If he goes ahead with the plan, organizers said they would hold a second "day of disruption" on Tuesday.
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The Israeli prime minister spent the previous day in the sun without drinking water and was taken to the hospital on Saturday for dehydration after experiencing a dizzy spell. Later, he made a video from the Tel Aviv hospital in which he claimed to feel fine. However, according to his office, Netanyahu would spend the night in the hospital. As a result, the weekly Cabinet meeting that was originally scheduled for Sunday was moved to Monday.
Others from all over the nation joined the demonstration on Saturday in Tel Aviv. Outside of Netanyahu's home in Jerusalem, protesters waved lit torches, and they also demonstrated in the coastal cities of Herzliya and Netanyahu.
The movement is still going strong after more than six months of demonstrations. The national labor union of Israel and its medical association have joined the long list of organizations opposing the bill in their statements. Fighter pilots, military reservists, and business executives have all pleaded with the government to scrap the plan.
The Histadrut, the nation's national labor union, is led by Arnon Bar-David, who recently threatened a potential general strike that could cripple the economy of the nation.
Bar-David urged Netanyahu to "stop the chaos," warning that if things get out of hand, "we will intervene and use our strength." After weeks of opposition, the government pushed the judicial reform legislation through parliament in March, prompting the Histadrut to declare a general strike. Large portions of Israel's economy were shut down as a result, which contributed to Netanyahu's decision to put the legislation on hold.
By voting to "employ all available means, including significant organizational measures" to oppose the reasonableness bill, the Israeli Medical Association, which represents 90% of Israeli physicians, joined the Histadrut on Friday.
The law will "devastate the health care system," according to the association's chairman, professor Zion Hagay.
Since Netanyahu's far-right government unveiled the overhaul plan in January, just days after taking office, there have been widespread demonstrations. The protests forced Netanyahu to put the overhaul on hold in March, but after compromise negotiations with the political opposition failed last month, he decided to bring the plan back.
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The revisions call for giving Netanyahu's allies control over judge selection and giving parliament the authority to overturn court judgments. In Israel's 75-year history, the Netanyahu administration is the most fervently ultranationalist and ultraOrthodox. After the nation held its fifth election in less than four years, all of which were seen as a test of Netanyahu's suitability to hold office as prime minister while on trial for corruption, his allies proposed the comprehensive changes to the judiciary.
The country's delicate system of checks and balances will be upset, according to opponents of the judicial reform, and power will be concentrated in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies. Netanyahu is accused of fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes, and because of this, critics contend that he has a conflict of interest.