TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) 鈥 Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 new government to overhaul the judicial system, measures that opponents say imperil the country's democratic foundation.
Israeli media, citing police, said some 100,000 people were out protesting.
The protest followed that also drew tens of thousands in an early challenge to Netanyahu and his 鈥 the most right-wing in Israeli history.
The government says a power imbalance has given judges and government legal advisers too much sway over lawmaking and governance. Netanyahu has pledged to press on with the changes despite the opposition.
Protesters filled central streets in the seaside metropolis, raising Israeli flags and banners that read 鈥淥ur Children will not Live in a Dictatorship鈥 and 鈥淚srael, We Have A Problem.鈥
鈥淭his is a protest to defend the country,鈥 said opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who joined the protest. 鈥淧eople came here today to protect their democracy.鈥
鈥淎ll generations are concerned. This is not a joke,鈥 said Lior Student, a protester. "This is a complete redefinition of democracy.鈥
Other protests took place in the cities of Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheba.
In addition to the protests, pressure has built up on Netanyahu鈥檚 government after the country鈥檚 attorney general asked Netanyahu to fire a key Cabinet ally following a Supreme Court ruling that disqualified him from holding a government post because of a conviction of tax offenses.
While Netanyahu was expected to heed the court ruling, it only deepened the rift in the country over the judicial system and the power of the courts.
Earlier this week, Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, with the judicial overhaul plans despite the protests. Opponents say the changes could help Netanyahu evade conviction in his corruption trial, or make the court case disappear altogether.
On Friday, Netanyahu's coalition was put for a new test after a disagreement between Cabinet members over the in the West Bank.
Defense Minister Yoav Galant, a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, ordered the removal of the outpost, upsetting a pro-settlement Cabinet member who had issued a directive to postpone the eviction pending further discussions.
