Tens of thousands protest against judicial overhaul: 'Negotiations? We won't move until the danger passes'

In demonstrations nationwide, speakers emphasize that the protest will not stop despite compromise talks; Netanyahu's cousin: 'If you use delay as an excuse to push through harmful legislation, you will be judged by history'; Watch: A police officer whips young woman
Roi Rubinstein, Liran Levi, Liran Tamari, Adam Kutub, Raanan Ben Tsur, Meir Turgeman, Eitan Glikman, Lior El-Chai and Dennis Bihler|Updated:

Policeman on a horse hits a protester
(Alon Giladi)

Tens of thousands Israelis gathered Saturday for mass demonstrations in the streets of Tel Aviv against the judicial overhaul despite compromise talks. The protesters who have taken the streets for the 13th straight week also blocked both routes of the Ayalon Highway in the city, as Israel Police had to deploy water cannons to clear it.
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19 suspects were arrested during the evening, including protesters and others who were carrying assault weapons. Prior to the dispersal of the protesters, the police used a special system, which emits noise to push them away. Near the Yehudit Bridge, an incident was recorded where a young female protester was hit by a policeman on a horse.
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הפגנה נגד המהפכה המשפטית, תל אביב
הפגנה נגד המהפכה המשפטית, תל אביב
Tel Aviv protests against judicial overhaul
(Photo: AP)
In a statement, protest organizers said that some 450,000 Israelis are protesting in 150 locations across the country, but in reality the estimates are much lower.
In addition, protest leaders have declared that they will persist in organizing demonstrations until the proposed legislation is entirely removed from consideration. This is because the agreement between the Prime Minister and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir entails a resumption of the legislative process following the Passover holiday, which the protestors view as unacceptable.

Despite Netanyahu pausing the Knesset process of the judicial overhaul to allow for negotiations on a compromise, rallies against the proposed changes in the judiciary system have persisted. Last week tens of thousands gathered ahead of 'Freedom March' in order to show that majority of Israelis support the legislation proposed by the Netanyahu government.
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מחאה בתל אביב
מחאה בתל אביב
Ayalon Highway
(Photo: Shmulik Davidpur)
Opposition leader Yair Lapid was also seen among the attendance and tweeted: “We are on our guard. The danger has not passed.”
Lapid has dispatched negotiators to engage in talks regarding a compromise reform package. However, he remains skeptical about Netanyahu's decision to suspend the legislative process, as he believes it may be a tactic to delay progress on the issue.
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הפגנה נגד המהפכה המשפטית, תל אביב
הפגנה נגד המהפכה המשפטית, תל אביב
Tel Aviv
(Photo: AP)
Demonstrations against the judicial reform also took place in Modiin, in front of the home of Justice Minister Yariv Levin.
Meanwhile, hundreds of pro-overhaul protestors rallied in the central city of Kfar Saba. The demonstrators called on the government to cease negotiations on a compromise reform package and continue with the legislation plans.
Amidst the protest, police say it arrested 19 individuals who were suspected of committing various offenses, such as rioting and possession of assault weapons.
4 View gallery
הפגנה נגד המהפכה המשפטית, תל אביב
הפגנה נגד המהפכה המשפטית, תל אביב
Ayalon Highway
(Photo: Tal Shahar)
Protests come two days after tens of thousands of supporters of the government and its planned judicial overhaul gathered for what they called "a Freedom March" in Tel Aviv after calls from ministers for the right-wing public to take to the streets in response to mass demonstrations held for the past three months, by opponents of the plan.
First published: 23:17, 04.01.23
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