Over 100,000 thousand people have gathered on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv armed with Israeli flags and signs in support of judicial reform. The demonstrators said by organizers to be among the tens of thousands making their way from all over the country are participating in a march to show their support for the government's efforts at judicial overhaul, at the site that has been the focus of the anti-reform protests for the last 29 weeks.
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In addition, about 100 people marched through the streets of Tel Aviv to protest against reservists who have notified the Israel Defense Forces that they will not show up for their volunteer reserve duty, chanting slogans including "the people demand reserve service without conditions.
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Demonstrations march in support of judicial reform on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Yariv Katz)
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of protesters are making their way to Jerusalem, including from Tel Aviv, to protest against the judicial reform in front of the Knesset, where lawmakers are currently debating the final legislation against the use of the reasonableness standard. They are expected to vote in second and third reading on or around Monday.
The Knesset's summer session ends on July 31.
As the protests begin to pick up steam on Monday evening, President Isaac Herzog – just hours after landing in Israel from his successful visit to the United States – headed to Sheba-Tel Hashomer Medical Center to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, where he is hospitalized after having a pacemaker implanted, in an effort to try to broker a last-minute compromise on the reform legislation.
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Isaac Herzog landed in Israel and headed to Sheba hospital to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photos: Chip Somodevilla /Getty Images, Alex Kolomoisky )
"All the time, and also during his visit to the US, the president and his team are working to explore all efforts for dialogue with the aim of reaching an agreement between the parties," the President's office said.
Following his meeting with Netanyahu, Herzog met with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and was scheduled to meet later in the evening with the head of the National Unity pary, Benny Gantz.
Earlier on Sunday, the government rejected a compromise outline proposed by Histadrut labor union Chairman Arnon Bar-David to modify the test of reasonableness, calling it a "one-sided acceptance of the opposition's position as it was from the beginning." The Histadrut's proposal reportedly was exactly the same as the proposal of opposition leader Yair Lapid, and the Likud party said in a statement that it "completely sterilizes the amendment on the issue of reasonableness and requires an absolute veto on all other elements of the reform."
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Tens of thousands demonstrate in favor of judicial reform on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Yehuda Rosen)
At the demonstration in Tel Aviv, Transportation Minister Miri Regev condemned reservists who have suspended their volunteer service over the legislation.
"I know this is the attempt of the elite to sabotage any attempt at reform and diversification," Regev said, adding: "Let's tell the truth, they are concerned with maintaining their centers of power, their elite, and we are concerned with creating diversity, representation and justice."
Regev said that she has a problem with refusals and bullying, and called for pilots to be arrested. "Whoever refuses an order – belongs in prison," she said.
The former president of the country, Reuven Rivlin, spoke at in Jerusalem, saying that he came to protest so that "we could be saved from a bad moment that is unprecedented in the history of the country."
Rivlin quoted from the Declaration of Independence, and concluded: "I ask you to join the request for forgiveness that I wish to express to our wonderful fighters and pilots – they did not deserve to hear what they heard." He said that "there is only one person who can prevent our dear country from disaster, and his name is Benjamin Netanyahu."
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Tens of thousands demonstrate in favor of judicial reform on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Moshiko Levhar)
Rivlin addressed the prime minister directly: "Bibi, immediately stop the entire legislative process ... above all else stands our Jewish and democratic state."
First published: 19:18, 07.23.23