PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Tens of thousands of people are continuing to protest Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed overhaul of the country’s judicial system. Philadelphians joined protests in solidarity on Sunday outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Israelis demonstrated over the weekend against his contentious plan, as the government pressed on with the proposed changes despite the mass opposition.
The plans were proposed in January, weeks after Netanyahu’s ultranationalist coalition, the most far-right government in the country’s history, was sworn in. The overhauls have increasingly divided the Israeli community and given momentum to weekly protests every Saturday.
The debate stems from fears that the changes would weaken the Supreme Court, limit judges’ powers, and threaten democratic institutions. Netanyahu and his allies say they will rein in an unelected judiciary.
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“The political situation in Israel right now is very, very complicated. And everybody here is very concerned that we’re seeing the decline of the Israel democracy,” Yuval Katz said while standing alongside dozens of other demonstrators in Philly.
Critics warn that it will upend Israel’s system of checks and balances, give too much power to the premier and push the country toward authoritarianism.
“We left Israel four years ago, but we’re still very much in love with our country,” said Guy Brodetzki of Montgomery County. “It’s our home, and it breaks our heart to see what might become of it.”
“You’re having someone who is just ripping the heart out of the Israeli democracy, and this threat could last for years,” added David Dormont of Bala Cynwyd.
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The central city of Tel Aviv saw the largest turnout in this week’s protests, with smaller demonstrations in several locations across the country.
Last week, Israeli police fired stun grenades and water cannons at demonstrators who blocked a Tel Aviv highway and protesters scuffled with police near the Israeli leader’s home as weeks of anti-government protests turned violent for the first time.
Proponents claim that curtailing the power of judges and courts is good for the country. But, as their opponents often counter, other factors may be in play: Some of the leading politicians clamoring for these changes either face legal problems or believe the courts are obstructing their ideological agendas.
Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, fraud, and breach of trust charges, and his political partners showed no signs of easing up on a push to pass a series of bills to overhaul Israel’s judiciary.
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