Israel Protests Flare Up in New Push to Stop Judicial Overhaul

TEL AVIV—Protesters blocked roads and highways across Israel on Tuesday to oppose the government’s new effort to curb the power of the country’s courts, with major demonstrations planned across the country in what organizers called a “day of disruption.” 

The demonstrations upset daily life by cutting off important transportation routes, including a protest at the country’s main airport, harking back to the extensive protests in March that paralyzed the nation and forced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pause the effort to overhaul the justice system. Protests were also planned near Tel Aviv’s main highway and the U.S. Embassy branch office.

Companies across the country gave employees the option to take the day off to join the protests, and avoid the chaotic commutes that the disruptions were causing.

Police said they arrested at least 42 people, and authorities deployed water cannons against demonstrators blocking streets. 

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have participated in the 27 straight weeks of protests, some of the largest in the country’s history, since the government revealed its plans in January to change the judiciary. The legislation has exposed fissures between Israel’s secular and religious communities, with supporters saying the courts’ power must be reined in and critics saying the judiciary are the only real check on the government.

The intensification of the protests comes after Netanyahu’s coalition began voting on judicial legislation again on Monday night without any support from the opposition. Netanyahu had held months of discussions with the opposition, but the talks stalled late last month, and the prime minister said he would move ahead with a revised version of the changes.

The overhaul consists of several bills that would generally weaken the power of Israel’s Supreme Court to overturn legislation and government decisions.

On Monday, Israel’s Parliament, the Knesset, voted on a bill that would significantly curtail the court’s power to strike down government or individual officials’ decisions on the grounds of “reasonableness.” The coalition argues the reasonableness metric is too arbitrary and gives unelected judges the power to overturn decisions by elected officials. But supporters say the test is a necessary tool to prevent corruption. The bill still needs two more votes before being passed into law. 

The legislative push has reignited calls by reservists to buck military service, a trend that senior security officials warned could have national-security consequences.

President Biden and others in his administration have called on the Netanyahu government to slow down and seek a consensus on changes to the justice system. Protesters said they want to keep pressure on the Biden administration to oppose the changes.

The country’s tech industry, as well as military reservists, have played a central role in protesting the overhaul. Critics including industry executives say the move will place too much power in the hands of the ruling coalition, foster corruption and scare away investment and talent.

On Monday, the governor of the Bank of Israel, Amir Yaron,

“Continued uncertainty is liable to have significant economic costs,” said Yaron, and urged lawmakers to bring back stability by verifying that “legislative changes will be carried out with broad agreement, and will maintain the strength and independence of the institutions.”

Netanyahu has argued that the judicial overhaul will improve Israel’s economy in the long run by removing obstacles to business.

Write to Dov Lieber at [email protected]