The protest movement against the government’s justice reform plan was set to intensify its strategy on Wednesday as it planned a “national day of disruption”.
The day is set to include a long list of demonstrations and protest marches across the country, as well as temporary strikes at various workplaces and schools, blocking roads and “house calls” at or near the homes of coalition MPs and ministers. it was done.
The events of the protest were laid out in great detail on a dedicated Website And Map (Hebrew), the organizers indicated that there were some more planned acts that were not publicly announced.
“Israel will not be a dictatorship – the millions of people who have taken to the streets over the past eight weeks have made that clear – and now we are moving to direct action,” the organizers said in a statement. “Tomorrow we will disrupt public order in the face of a government that is trying to disrupt the democratic system. Thousands of people will turn out for activities across the country to stop the regime coup, which has no support among the people.”
Israel police were also making preparations, gathering intelligence on the organizers’ plans and increasing forces in an effort to minimize disruption to the public. The force said in a statement on Tuesday that Tel Aviv’s Hashalom junction would be closed in both directions from 7:45 am. The force said it would show “zero tolerance towards disruption of order, damage to property and damage to government symbols” and would not allow road-blocking that was not coordinated ahead of time.
“We are preparing for spontaneous roadblocks,” the Maariv news site quoted an unnamed senior police source as saying. ,[The organizers’] The goal is of course to work across multiple sectors, so we will be there to respond quickly and efficiently.”
“We know that protesters plan to come to the homes of members of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, and the police will also be there,” the official said, referring to the Knesset panel that has discussed the overhaul plan. “We may not reach everyone, but we will be in the places we have reliable and accurate information about.”
The protest movement urged police to “ignore” the man they deemed a “schoolboy bully”, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has gained more powers over police policy and urged a tougher hand against anti-government protests Have done Organizers call on police to “secure and deliver democratic protest” [Ben Gvir] Free time to do the only thing he knows how to do – making TikTok videos.
Opposition MKs raise Israeli flags to protest the government’s judicial overhaul plans during the Knesset plenum session on February 20, 2023. (Twitter video screenshot; used in accordance with section 27A of the Copyright Act)
Meanwhile, in the Knesset, the House committee prepared to discuss which committee would host discussion of the two overhaul bills, which passed their preliminary readings in the plenum last week, and are expected to receive their approval before becoming law. Will prepare to read the remaining plenum votes.
One of the bills With the aim of restoring the ruling party leader Arya Dairy This would eliminate court oversight over ministerial appointments, except for the basic requirements set out in current laws, despite the High Court’s disqualification on his many previous convictions as a minister.
second bill will be increase government control The Police’s Internal Investigations Division – a Justice Ministry body tasked with investigating police wrongdoing – has been separated from the state’s attorney’s office and the Justice Minister has been personally appointed to head it.
Later in the day, the Knesset plenum was set to vote in a preliminary reading on a bill ease conditions quickly under which an order of disapproval of a prime minister can be made. The government-promoted legislation follows media reports – since denied – that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take a leave of absence for violating the conflict of interest terms he signed. Were considering forcing. The settlement spares him from dealing with legal setbacks as it could affect the outcome of his ongoing corruption trial.
Parents and children hold and wave Israeli flags during a protest against the government’s planned legal overhaul in Tel Aviv on February 20, 2023. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
The following is the schedule of main planned protest activities announced by the organisers:
- 8 a.m.: Demonstrations by parents and students outside dozens of schools across the country, including “lessons on democracy”.
- 8 am: Protests at various train stations under the title “Legislative Train Stopping”.
- 8:30 am: A rally outside the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv, where the annual conference of the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) is taking place. Defense Minister Yoav Galant (Likud) and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi are set to attend the conference. Both Likud’s Intelligence Minister Gila Gamlil and MK Danny Danon canceled their planned participation on Tuesday. Also speaking at the protest will be former IDF chief Dan Halutz and former Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin.
- 10 a.m.: March from Dizengoff Center to Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv.
- 10 a.m.: Protest convoys of agricultural vehicles leave from about 70 kibbutzim across the country.
- 11 am: Tech workers protest across the country.
- 2 pm: An “emergency rally” titled “Without democracy, no health” by health workers near the Tel Aviv District Court on Weitzman Street.
- 4 p.m.: A protest in Jerusalem’s Rose Garden, near the Knesset, coincides with the start of the plenum session.
- 5 pm: “Day of Rage” incident at Karkur Junction in the north.
- 7 p.m. to midnight: Protests near Netanyahu’s private residence on Jerusalem’s Gaza Street, and march to the official residence of President Isaac Herzog.
- 8 p.m.: “Angry protest” on Tel Aviv’s Sha’al HaMelech Street.
