Israeli police spray water at protesters during a rally against the government's judicial reform bill in Tel Aviv on April 1, 2023. PHOTO AFP JERUSALEM - Tens of thousands of Israelis resumed demonstrations in the coastal city of Tel Aviv Saturday night, calling for a complete cancellation of the government's judicial overhaul plan.
Some 160,000 people were demonstrating in the major Israeli city, according to the estimates of Channel 12, according to the Times of Israel. Demonstrations were also held in several other cities.
Before the protests resurfaced, streets had remained calm for a few days in Israel since the ruling coalition and those opposing it started their negotiations on Thursday to find a compromise.
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The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on March 26 that they would pause the contentious legislation aimed at curbing what they called a too-powerful Supreme Court. There was a nationwide strike after weeks of widespread protests.
The ruling coalition, which had pushed for judicial reform bills in the parliament since the beginning of this year, argued that the supreme court is often involved in political issues that should be determined by the legislature.
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The opponents of the reforms believe that the reform will weaken the courts and give the coalition too much power.
We are on guard. The danger has not yet passed, said Yair Lapid, head of the opposition, from one of the demonstrations. Lapid's party Yesh Atid is participating in the negotiations.