Over 90,000 gather in Israel's capital to protest judicial reform
Lapid to moderate Likud MKs: Stop the government's legislation • Netanyahu: Opposition leaders are dragging us into anarchy
Who is speaking at the Knesset protest?
The following are scheduled to make speeches in the protest outside the Knesset:
Former defense minister Moshe "Bogi" Yaalon
Women's Movement leader Moran Zar Kazenshtein
White Coats leader Dr. Rani Barnea
Ami Ayalon
Journalist Orly Bar-Lev
Amos Gilad
Director-General of Iggy - Proud Youth Movement Ofer Newman
Activist Ibrahim Abu Ahmed
Hadas Shaharbani from the "No Health Without Democracy" movement
Eliad Shraga
Noa Zilberminch from the Students Movement
Shova Locker of the high school students' protest
Social Worker Yael Levin
Knesset Law Committee passes first stage of Israeli judicial reform
Israeli opposition members shouted "shame" and "disgrace." Committee chair Simcha Rothman had them removed by force and threatened to hold the vote immediately.
The judicial reform passed the first hurdle in the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on Monday following a chaotic scene of shouting and chanting at the opening of the session.
Opposition members shouted "shame" and "disgrace." Committee chairman Simcha Rothman ordered the removal of opposition MKs from the room, who resisted when security removed them by force.
Disruptions continued for more than half an hour, preventing the committee from proceeding.
One MK announced that there would be no vote today. At the session, a first vote is expected on the amendment to Basic Law: The Judiciary.
Rothman threatened to hold the vote immediately if order was not restored.
Israeli Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee to vote on judicial reform
The amendment is part of the judicial reforms first proposed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin in early January.
The draft would see the composition of the judge selection committee altered to create an automatic majority for the coalition. Further, the High Court of Justice would be restricted in its use of judicial review related to Basic Laws.
Go to the full article >>Tens of thousands gather in Jerusalem to protest judicial reform as Knesset meets
Protestors include people from the Women's protest, school and university students, the Black Flags movement and the reservists' protestors.
Tens of thousands of people began gathering in Jerusalem and in other major cities across the country on Monday for a massive protest that will span the nation as the government prepares to begin voting on its flagship and controversial judicial reform.
Protestors came from all walks of life and were led by activists who had participated in the women's protests, school and university students, the Black Flags movement and the reservists who marched to Jerusalem from Latrun last week.
They gathered across the country near Ben-Gurion Airport and in places like Herzliya, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The main protest is scheduled for near the Knesset and will kick off at about 1 pm (Israel time).
Over a million people are expected to strike. Over 50 convoys of vehicles are planned to head to Jerusalem, along with hundreds of buses, the organizers said.
The events were planned to begin at 10:00 a.m. with a prayer at the Western Wall, and then shift to the streets outside the Knesset beginning at 12:00 p.m. and continuing throughout the afternoon. People who committed to coming include thousands of doctors, hundreds of hi-tech companies, hundreds of law offices, university students and staff, high school students, and many other groups from "all branches and sectors," the organizers said.
Go to the full article >>Important facts
- Over 90,000 gathered in Jerusalem, across Israel to protest the government's judicial reform
- The government planned to start voting on the judicial reform on Monday
- Yair Lapid calls for moderate Likud MKs to defy Netanyahu, block legislation