Right-wing Israelis block a main road as they rally in support of plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Thursday, March 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Thousands of right-wing Israelis on Thursday blocked a main highway in Tel Aviv as they demonstrated in favor of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system.
The crowd was much smaller than the hundreds of thousands of people who have taken to the streets in recent months to demonstrate against the plan.
But the gathering had the same effect. Protesters honked their car horns and hoisted blue and white Israeli flags — crippling traffic along the Ayalon highway, the main north-south thoroughfare running through the coastal city.
After especially intense protests, Netanyahu this week froze the plan and began negotiations with his political opponents aimed at finding a compromise plan. But his opponents have vowed to continue their protests as well.
The plan would give Netanyahu’s parliamentary coalition control over judicial appointments and the power to overturn Supreme Court decisions it opposes.
Netanyahu and his allies say the plan is needed to rein a system unelected activist judges who wield too much power over political matters.
Opponents say the changes would destroy a system of checks and balances by concentrating too much power in the hands of Netanyahu and his allies in parliament. They also say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest while he is on trial for criminal charges and has no business meddling in the country’s legal system.
Right-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימין רמי בן יהודהRight-wing Israelis block the Ayalon highway during a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis block the Ayalon highway during a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis attend a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis block the Ayalon highway during a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis block the Ayalon highway during a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis block the Ayalon highway during a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis block the Ayalon highway during a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימיןRight-wing Israelis block the Ayalon highway during a rally in support of the government’s planned judicial overhaul, in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2023. Photo by Erik Marmor/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** הפגנה תל אביב משפטית מפגינים ליכוד ימין רפורמה הפגנ ימין
Small crowd. A day late and a lerote short. Bibi gave in. Why, why?
Kvetch
1 year ago
#2056474
Did a young left wing couple make a wrong car turn into the area and have thecrap beat out of them? That says it all in terms of which side is promoting truth.
Lgb
1 year ago
#2056462
Great! May the pro reform crowds only get bigger
FooldYOU
1 year ago
#2056473
Insurrectionists formenting a civil war and a uprising against the law, fascists, racists, homophobic, xenephbics…
Anyone have more words that the left will call them.
Small crowd. A day late and a lerote short. Bibi gave in. Why, why?
Did a young left wing couple make a wrong car turn into the area and have thecrap beat out of them? That says it all in terms of which side is promoting truth.
Great! May the pro reform crowds only get bigger
Insurrectionists formenting a civil war and a uprising against the law, fascists, racists, homophobic, xenephbics…
Anyone have more words that the left will call them.