Israeli police and demonstrators protesting against the controversial judicial reform have clashed in Tel Aviv after participants in the mass protest blocked the Ayalon highway near the government complex, Israeli media reported on Thursday
TEL AVIV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 09th March, 2023) Israeli police and demonstrators protesting against the controversial judicial reform have clashed in Tel Aviv after participants in the mass protest blocked the Ayalon highway near the government complex, Israeli media reported on Thursday.
The police used cavalry to clear a blocked interchange on what is one of the country's key highways, the Ynet news outlet reported.
The Times of Israel reported that law enforcement officers had started to remove some protesters from the scene of the mass demonstration.
Thousands of protesters started their action against the government's judicial reform initiated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu early Thursday on Habima Square and then marched to the district housing government buildings. The protests will be ongoing until late evening, according to media reports.
Earlier in the day, protesters reportedly blocked the entrance to Ben Gurion Airport, from which Netanyahu is set to fly to Rome on an official visit. He will reportedly get to the airport via helicopter.
Mass demonstrations are also taking place in Haifa and other Israeli cities.
In January, Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin rolled out a legal reform package that would limit the authority of the Supreme Court by giving the cabinet control over the selection of new judges, as well as allowing the parliament to override the court's rulings with an absolute majority. The reform's opponents argue it will undermine democracy in Israel and put the country on the verge of a social and constitutional crisis.
