More than 100,000 people from all over Israel held a demonstration in Jerusalem this evening in support of the government’s plans to reform the country’s judicial system. Among the speakers were two people who have been pushing the measures through the Knesset, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Knesset Speaker Simka Rothman, chairman of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also spoke. Several coalition members in the Knesset, including David Amsalem, Revital (Tali) Gottlieb, Moshe Saada, and Ministers Yisrael Katz, Edith Silman, and Galit Distel Atberian, participated in the demonstration.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend the rally, but sent a message of support. The ultra-Orthodox newspaper, “Yated Ne’eman,” which is affiliated with the United Torah Judaism party, a partner in the coalition, called on the ultra-Orthodox public not to participate in the march.
A group of academics marched from the Bridge of Strings at the entrance to Jerusalem to the area around the Knesset where the main assembly took place. Participants included Nobel Laureate Professor Yisrael (Robert) Umann, former Dean of Bar-Ilan University Professor Hanoch Lavie, Professor Tsela Sinwani-Stern and Professor Talia Einhorn. “We have come to protest against the dictatorship of unelected people who impose their position on the public,” said Prof Aumann.
“I am convinced that we are able to reach reform by agreement,” Yariv Levin said in his speech. “The agreement means practical negotiation and willingness to amend substantial elements of reform, not holding discussions for more than a month and saying no to every proposal.” Levin was booed for showing his willingness to reach an agreement, and the crowd shouted at him, “We want legal reform.”
Levin continued: “We want to send a message to those who fear the results of reform.” “I would turn to them. They tell us that reform is designed to control the court. And vice versa. We want a court for everyone — liberal, conservative, right, left, everyone. They say reform is designed to impose one community’s way of life on another. The opposite is true. There is no Coercion in this reform. There is no greater lie than that there would be a dictatorship if the reform passed. Show me one democracy in which it is the legal advisers who decide instead of the government.”
Levine attacked the Supreme Court’s decisions. “We want a court that does not give rights to the families of terrorists, that does not allow memorial ceremonies for demonstrations with supporters of terror. Join us – a court expressing concern for the old lady in south Tel Aviv and not for the infiltrators who are harming her,” said Levin, addressing Labor leader Merav Michaeli. A court that protects the lives of IDF soldiers, not the terrorists’ neighbors. Levine said he was dealing with incitement and defamation. “It’s just empowering me,” he said. Each passing day shows the correctness of our path. I will continue and do everything in my power to bring about the needed change in the legal system.”
“Reforming the legal system is my life’s work, and I will continue to develop it in every possible way,” said Rothman.
Published by Globes, Israel business news – en.globes.co.il – on April 27, 2023.
© Copyright Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2023.