Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in central Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government to overhaul the legal system and weaken the Supreme Court – a step that critics say will destroy the country's democratic system of checks and balances.
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The protest presented an early challenge to Netanyahu and his Otzma Yehudit leader, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has ordered police to take tough action if protesters block roads or display Palestinian flags.
The crowd at Tel Aviv's Habima Square had swelled to 80,000 people by 9 p.m. despite cool, rainy weather. Protesters, many covered by umbrellas, held Israeli flags and signs saying "Criminal Government," "The End of Democracy" and other slogans. There were no immediate reports of unrest, although some clashes were reported in the nearby major intersections, as police stopped demonstrators from blocking the Ayalon Highway.
Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has made overhauling the country's legal system a centerpiece of his agenda.
In office for just over two weeks, his government has launched proposals to weaken the Supreme Court by giving parliament the power to overturn court decisions with a simple majority vote in some cases. It also wants to give parliament control over the appointment of judges and reduce the independence of legal advisers.
Netanyahu's justice minister says unelected judges have too much power. But opponents to the plans say the proposed changes will undermine Israeli democracy. Israeli opposition leaders, former attorney generals and the president of Israel's Supreme Court have all spoken out against the plan.
Police beefed up their presence ahead of the march. Israeli media quoted police as saying officers had been instructed to be "very sensitive" and allow the protest to proceed peacefully. But they also vowed a tough response to any vandalism or violent behavior. Smaller protests also took place in the cities of Jerusalem and Haifa.
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