Protestors march on Jerusalem to oppose bill that limits Supreme Court
Thousands of Israelis marched on Jerusalem Saturday in opposition to a controversial government bill that would restrict the powers of the country’s Supreme Court.
The bill, which the parliament is scheduled to vote on by Monday, is designed to balance the power of the Court which has become too interventionist, says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Critics say they fear that the court has an important rule in safeguarding citizens’ rights. Israel has no constitution and a one-house parliament that is dominated by the government.
The marchers, carrying blue and white Israeli flags and shouting anti-government slogans, have been walking for days from Tel Aviv and plan to protest outside parliament, where a debate on the issue is scheduled for Sunday.
Thousands joined the marchers on the 45-mile trek to protest the right-wing government’s overhaul of the judiciary — a plan that caused growing defections by military reservists in the country and appeals from President Joe Biden to put it on hold, according to reports.
“The vote is not the last step,” said protest leader Shikma Bressler in an interview Saturday. “This is why we are trying to build the forces…in this country to choose right from wrong, to choose light from darkness.”
The bill would curtail the Supreme Court’s ability to strike down lower court decisions it considers “unreasonable.” Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, and his government allies — a coalition of ultra-Orthodox parties — say the plan is necessary to curb the overreaching powers of unelected judges.
