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Demonstrators continue to take to the streets against justice reform in Tel Aviv, Israel. Photo/REUTERS
TEL AVIV – Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged the government late Sunday (26/3/2023) to stop the judicial shake-up that is dividing the country.
The judicial reform plan has sparked months of protests across the country.
The president’s comments came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, who spoke out against the proposed reforms.
The move added fuel to the nationwide demonstrations, which were attended by more than 600,000 people on Saturday (25/3/2023), according to local media reports.
During the latest protests, demonstrators blocked Tel Aviv’s Ayalon highway, lighting bonfires and chanting “democracy”. The police used water cannons to disperse the crowd.
Clashes also erupted in Jerusalem when activists broke through barriers and clashed with police outside Netanyahu’s private residence.
As the protests intensified, Herzog took to Twitter, addressing Netanyahu and the governing coalition. “For the sake of the unity of the Israeli people, for the sake of responsibility, I call on you to stop the legislation immediately,” he wrote.
The president added that the protests threaten Israel’s security, economy and society.
