Tens of thousands of Israelis protested against government plans to reduce the power of the judiciary, hours after President Isaac Herzog warned the country is on the verge of “constitutional and social collapse.”
Demonstrators flocked to parliament from around the nation on Monday, stood outside elementary schools and stopped highway traffic by waving Israeli flags and chanting “democracy!” They are seeking to derail a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and allies to make it easier for the state to appoint judges and limit the Supreme Court’s authority to strike down legislation.
The protests took place as the Knesset law committee advanced two key bills related to the judicial overhaul, clearing the way for a plenum vote as early as Monday evening. Herzog — whose role is largely symbolic — has called for a delay and more talks, and delivered a rare prime-time speech to warn of the potential disruption if he is ignored.
