Israelis protesting a contentious government plan to overhaul the judicial system have stepped up their opposition, with large demonstrations and road closures expected in what protest leaders have dubbed a “national disruption day”.
The demonstrations on Wednesday come as the government barrels ahead with the legal changes. A parliamentary committee is moving forward on a bill that would weaken the Supreme Court. The Knesset also is set to cast a preliminary vote on a separate proposal to protect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from being removed from his post over calls that he cannot serve as premier while on trial for corruption.
Protesters blocked Tel Aviv’s main freeway artery and the highway connecting the city to Jerusalem early on Wednesday, halting rush hour traffic for about an hour.
At busy train stations in Tel Aviv, protesters prevented trains from departing by blocking their doors. Police said several protesters were arrested for disturbing the peace.
In response, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist, called on police to prevent the road blockages, labeling the protesters “anarchists”.
Thousands of protesters came out in locations across the country waving Israeli flags. Parents marched with their children, tech workers walked out of work to demonstrate and doctors in scrubs protested outside hospitals.
The main demonstrations were expected outside the Knesset and near Netanyahu’s official residence in Jerusalem.
Read the article by Tia Goldenberg in The West Australian.