The decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition to push through a key plank of its controversial reform package on Monday has already sparked legal challenges and clashes on the streets.
The new legislation curbs judicial review by Israel’s top court of some government decisions, and critics fear it could pave the way to more authoritarian government.
Protest organisers said more rallies were planned in the coming days, including on Wednesday near the Supreme Court in Jerusalem and in Tel Aviv — the epicentre of anti-government rallies since January when the proposed reforms were unveiled.
“We lost this specific battle… but we are determined to fight against this bad government,” said activist Guy Maidan.
“This is going to be a long battle… to get Israel’s liberal democracy back.”
Netanyahu’s coalition government, which includes far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, argues the reforms are needed to to ensure a better balance of power.
Doctors on Tusday walked out for several hours to protest parliament’s vote, before a court ordered them to return to work.
Read the article in The Australian (AFP).