Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Israel evening to protest against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial reforms to the country's judicial system.
Chanting "the country is on fire", demonstrators gathered outside Mr Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem on Sunday evening to demand the draft legislation be withdrawn, only to be dispersed by police water cannons. Bonfires were meanwhile lit along Tel Aviv's biggest motorway, forcing road closures and causing traffic mayhem.
On Monday, the protests continued, while Israel's largest union, Histadrut, which represents 700,000 workers across a huge variety of professions, called for an immediate general strike. Universities have closed their doors "until further notice" and flights from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport have been grounded, as pressure grows to halt the legislation.
Mr Netanyahu's proposals, which have caused controversy since their unveiling on 4 January, would allow for a simple majority of 61 in the 120-seat Knesset to override almost any supreme court rulings, and to allow politicians have more say on the justices appointed to the bench. Protests over the legislation have been a constant feature of over the last two months.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Keep a civil tongue.