Unprecedented anti-government protests have been sweeping Israel since the beginning of the year over a set of judicial reforms proposed by the far-right government.
Here’s what you need to know.
Israeli protesters hold flags and signs during a protest against the Judicial reforms, outside the Knesset in Jerusalem on February 22, 2023. (Photo by Ilia Yefimovich/picture alliance via Getty Images)
How Did The Protests Start?
The protests first broke out in January 2023, when the far-right government proposed making a series of changes to the country’s judicial system.
A demonstrator holds up a sign during a march with others carrying torches and Israeli national flags during a protest against the government’s controversial judicial reform bill in Tel Aviv on March 9, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
What Are The Proposed Reforms?
In Israel, the Supreme Court has always had the power to declare laws passed by the parliament – known as the Knesset – as unconstitutional.
Demonstrators gather to stage a protest against regulations of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu’s government restricting the powers of the judiciary at Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 18, 2023. (Photo by Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
However, the government has proposed a bill that would weaken this power in three major ways.
Protestors raise their hands in a show of no violence during an anti-judicial overhaul demonstration in Jerusalem on July 24, 2023. (Photo by Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The first is taking away the Supreme Court’s power to declare government decisions as unreasonable.
Israeli protesters attend a rally in central Tel Aviv, on February 11, 2023, against controversial legal reforms being touted by the country’s hard-right government. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
The second is allowing the Knesset to override Supreme Court decisions through a majority vote.
Protestors wave Israeli flags during a demonstration Mass demonstrations against the judicial reform were held in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on February 20, 2023. (Photo by Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
And the third is changing the committee that chooses Supreme Court judges so the government can control who is selected.
Protesters hold signs and flags during a massive protest against the government’s judicial overhaul plan on March 11, 2023 in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)
What Does The Government Say?
Protesters hold up a sign as thousands of Israelis attend a rally against Israeli Government’s judicial overhaul plan on March 27, 2023 in Jerusalem, Israel. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images)
The government says this is necessary because the Supreme Court, which is made up of unelected judges, has too much power over elected politicians.
What Do Protesters Say?
Demonstrators lift placards and use flares during a rally to protest the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv, on April 29, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
However, protesters and critics say the changes will weaken the supreme court’s independence and give the government too much power, which they say is particularly concerning given the country’s relatively weak checks and balances.
Protesters wave flags and hold placards during a demonstration in Jerusalem on February 13, 2023 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reform. (Photo by Eyal Warshavsky/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Protesters say this could allow the government to further its right-wing agenda, including constructing Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
A protester holds a placard that says, “Democracy Occupation Oxymoron” at a demonstration on June 3, 2023 against the judicial reform. (Photo by Matan Golan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
There are also concerns that the changes would shield prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu from a corruption trial he is currently facing.
Protesters hold national flags amid ongoing demonstrations against the government’s judicial reform bill, in Tel Aviv on April 8, 2023. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP via Getty Images)
What’s Happening Now?
An aerial view of Kaplan Street as Israelis gather to protest against the government’s judicial overhaul bill, in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 29, 2023. (Photo by Yair Palti/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Netanyahu was forced to pause efforts to push through the reform in March due to the protests.
But on July 24, the parliament passed the first part of the reform – stopping the Supreme Court from declaring government decisions unreasonable – after the opposition boycotted the vote.
Demonstrators carry placards during a protest against the government’s judicial overhaul bill, in Tel Aviv on July 15, 2023. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)
The decision was met with mass protests, which are now the largest and longest in Israel’s 75-year history.
Protesters lift flags and placards as they march against the Israeli government’s judicial overhaul plan in Tel Aviv on July 29, 2023. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Protesters include academics, technology leaders, and thousands of people from trade unions, and military reserves, who are threatening to strike from the Israeli Defense Force or IDF.
An aerial view of Kaplan Street as Israelis gather to protest against the government’s judicial overhaul bill near government complex, in Tel Aviv, Israel on July 29, 2023. (Photo by Yair Palti/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
What Happens Next?
Demonstrators wave national flags and raise placards during a rally against the Israeli government’s controversial judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv, on March 25, 2023. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images)
On July 26, the supreme court announced it will review the new law by hearing appeals against it, but the process could take months.
