Protesters criticize Israeli government’s far-right reform plans

Protesters gathered in Washington Square Park on Sunday morning to protest the Israeli government’s recent proposal to limit the judiciary.

A+man+in+dark+grey+jacket+and+a+woman+in+light+grey+jacket%2C+both+wear+grey+winter+hats%2C+hold+full-size+Israeli+flags+on+ pillars.+They+stand+in+front+of+Washington+square+arch+in+Washington+square+park.

Jason Alpert-Visnia

Dozens of protesters gathered in Washington Square Park to protest against the far-right Israeli government’s plans to limit the power of the country’s judiciary. (Jason Alpert-Visnia for WSN)

Dozens of demonstrators gathered in Washington Square Park on Sunday, February 5, to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to reform the country’s judiciary. The protesters demanded that the proposed policy, which, among other changes, would limit the ability of the courts to overturn government decisions, should not be passed by the Israeli parliament, fearing that it would undermine the independence of the judiciary and create opportunities for rights violations.

Netanyahu, who was re-elected as prime minister in November in Israel’s fifth election in almost four years, was greeted with tens of thousands of people protests in Tel Aviv against the proposed law. In 2019, Netanyahu was accused of bribery and fraud after a three year investigation. His trial continues.

Noah Fort, one of the organizers of the protest, said she hopes the protest in New York will strengthen the voices of the Israeli people, who are fighting against the alleged far-right government takeover.

“This is really important because people in Israel need to know that they are supported by people abroad,” Fort said. “We hope this gets to the international media and to the people in positions of power abroad, who we think should stop unconditionally supporting everything Israel does.”

Netanyahu’s reforms, if adopted, let parliament overthrow choose Supreme Court rulings and give the government more say in political nominations. His judicial reform also includes a plan flip the Israeli system of checks and balances giving power to the right-wing coalition.

The demonstrators had previously delivered an anti-reform protest in Washington Square Park on January 28. Fort joined UnXeptable, a pro-Israel human rights group, in organizing the protest. The group helped organize similar protests in cities such as Boston, Seattle, and Washington, DC.

Former Stern visiting professor Martin Cherkes, who attended Sunday’s protest, said he was concerned that the new policy would concentrate power in Netanyahu’s hands.

“The people who resist this reform are the most productive, the most educated and the most active in the war effort in Israeli society,” Cherkes said. “This is the foundation of Israel, and going and reforming against the will of the people – at least 50% of the people – is a bad idea.”

Netanyahu, who previously served two terms as prime minister, has included ultra-nationalist politicians in his administration’s cabinet, who want to add land on the West Bank. The land is currently being claimed by the Palestinians, a move that could cause tension between the Jewish and Arab populations both in Israel and in the region as a whole. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, in a largely ceremonial position, has joined liberal Israelis in warning the public about the dangers A far-right Netanyahu administration could wreak havoc on the country.

The protest was also attended by supporters of the American pro-Israel organization J Street. Mark Lurinski, a member of the New Jersey J Street chapter’s steering committee, criticized Netanyahu’s proposed speech changes during the protest. He said the changes are the government’s latest attempt to divide citizens along race and religion lines, a tactic he believes will only increase the country’s violence.

“We are here today to declare our unconditional support for the Israelis who are pushing for democracy,” Lurinski said.. “The Israeli judiciary remains one of the most fundamental deterrents to those in power and must be protected.”

Lurinski also said that Netanyahu’s allies, including Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, are trying to “seize power in a non-democratic way.” He also criticized increased evictions of Palestinians in Israel, as well as the destruction of houses in Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Fort added that she believes Israeli democracy is currently limited and violates the human rights of Israeli citizens as well as Palestinians.

“There is an attempt to institutionalize discrimination and racism against groups in Israel, including Arabs, immigrants, women and LGBTQ people,” Fort said. “Equality is a fundamental value of democracy, and it is now under threat.”

Contact Bruna Horvath [email protected]

Content Source

Dallas Press News – Latest News:
Dallas Local News || Fort Worth Local News | Texas State News || Crime and Safety News || National news || Business News || Health News

texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

Related Articles

Back to top button