Mass protests in Israel as controversial overhauls advanced

Israelis hold a giant banner depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, to protest protest plans by his new government to overhaul the judicial system, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. On Tuesday, Netanyahu's government for the first time advanced the plan by securing a preliminary vote at the Knesset, defying a mass uproar among Israelis and calls for restraint from the United States. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) 鈥 Tens of thousands of Israelis on Saturday protested their far-right government鈥檚 plans to overhaul the legal system, three days after parliament advanced a bill that would enable lawmakers to overturn a Supreme Court decision with a simple majority.

The 鈥淪upreme Court override鈥 bill鈥檚 approval in a preliminary vote in the Knesset was the latest step by Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 ruling coalition toward realizing the judicial overhaul that is steaming ahead despite calls for dialogue and consensus from American Jews and , and the weekly mass protests.

In addition to weakening the country's highest court, the protesters say the proposed changes threaten Israel's democratic values and concentrate power with the ruling coalition in parliament. Netanyahu and his ruling coalition believe the court has had unchecked power for years.

For eight weeks, the weekly protests have gained momentum, with large sectors of Israeli society and businesses joining them. On Saturday, the main protest took place in the central city of Tel Aviv along numerous smaller demonstrations across the country.

The protesters held Israeli flags, flares, and posters with different messages against the judicial overhauls. 鈥淣o Constitution, No Democracy," said one placard. Some demonstrators stood behind a banner reading 鈥淭hey Shall Not Pass" and 鈥淲e Shall Override,鈥 referring to the vote.

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