Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated Thursday against the judicial reform wanted by the government, during a new day of mobilization punctuated by clashes between demonstrators and police.
In this tense context, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has repeatedly asked the ruling coalition to pause the legislative process to allow negotiations with the opposition on the reform, announced that he will address the Israelis on Thursday evening.
His speech is expected for 7:00 p.m. (5:00 p.m. GMT), according to Israeli media. It is to be followed by an "important statement" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. GMT), according to the prime minister's office.
In Tel Aviv, a dozen demonstrators were arrested for disturbing public order according to the police. The police used water cannons to disperse the crowd that had blocked the city's ring road, according to an AFP journalist on the spot.
"Ayalon [the main urban highway of the metropolis, Editor's note] has never been so blocked, [the demonstrators] have managed to block it in both directions, several times, for much longer periods than previously", s' is congratulated Nadav Golander, 37, who works in advertising.
"If the vote on the [composition of the commission responsible for] appointing judges passes next week [in Parliament], it's the start of the dictatorship," he added.
The text, one of the central elements of the judicial reform wanted by the government, which aims to strengthen the power of politicians in the appointment of judges, has already been adopted at first reading in Parliament.
Noam Tal Goren, a 22-year-old waitress, also said she was worried about Israeli democracy.
"The laws they are trying to pass, the changes in the judicial system, the changes in the fundamental laws, this is something that I cannot accept, not in my country, a democratic country," she told AFP on the sidelines of the demonstration in Tel Aviv.
Several thousand people also gathered in Jerusalem outside the prime minister's residence, according to Israeli media figures.
Police do not provide estimates of the number of protesters.
Other rallies, of less importance, were held in Haifa, in the north of the country, and in Beer Sheva (south).
Thursday had been baptized "day of national paralysis" by the organizers of the demonstrations which follow one another each week since the presentation by the Minister of Justice Yariv Levin of a reform project which divides the country.
The reform aims to increase the power of elected officials over that of magistrates. According to its detractors, it jeopardizes the democratic character of the State of Israel.
Mr. Netanyahu and his far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies believe the reform is necessary to restore a balanced balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which they consider politicized.
23/03/2023 17:29:22 - Tel Aviv (AFP) © 2023 AFP
