Massive wave of protests sweeps across Israel

An estimated 630,000 people demonstrated against the government’s proposed judicial reform

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets across the country on Saturday to protest against the government’s controversial push to overhaul the judicial system.

The organizers of the massive demonstrations – which took place in cities including Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba, and Tel Aviv – announced on Friday a ‘Week of Paralysis’ to resist what they called an “attempt to turn Israel into a dictatorship.”

According to figures provided by the organizers, a total of 630,000 people attended the rallies. In Tel Aviv alone, which was the main venue for the activists, around 200,000 protesters gathered, local media said.

Tel Aviv, today. Estimated as the largest protest in the history of Israel pic.twitter.com/2CEGz4cl2b

— Danel Lushi (@DanelLushi) March 25, 2023

The protests were also marked by a stand-off with police, who used water cannons to disperse a crowd blocking the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv and detained 28 people. A group of lawyers providing legal assistance to the protesters claimed that a total of 44 activists were arrested.

Amid the massive protests, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned that the issue of judicial reform has become increasingly divisive. “The deepening split is seeping into the military and defense institutions. This is a clear, immediate and real danger to Israel’s security,” he stated, urging the government to hold talks with the opposition.

An estimated 600,000+ participated in protests across #Israel tonight in opposition of the government’s proposed Judicial reforms.

Below, protestors sing Israel’s national anthem, Hatikvah - the Hope