Tens of thousands of Israelis — hoisting flags, blowing on horns and chanting "democracy" and "no to dictatorship"— have protested outside the parliament, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government formally launched a controversial plan to overhaul the country's legal system.
It is the largest protest outside the Knesset in years and reflected the deep divisions over the plan. The proposed changes have triggered weeks of mass demonstrations, drawn cries of protests from influential business leaders and former military men and even prompted a statement of concern from President Joe Biden.
