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2023-07-24 Israel-Palestine-Jordan
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‘Time of emergency’: Dueling judicial overhaul rallies as Herzog makes final bid for compromise
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[IsraelTimes] Tens of thousands at Tel Aviv pro-coalition event where ministers slam reservist protests, vow more laws; ex-president Rivlin in Jerusalem: 24 hours to save our wonderful country
As the Knesset moved forward with its debate on the coalition’s contentious judicial overhaul legislation Sunday, with an eye toward approving limitations on court oversight within a day or two, two major rallies in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv underlined the split in Israeli society over the plan. In Tel Aviv, at the site that has become synonymous with the anti-overhaul protests where Kaplan Street meets the Azrieli Towers, masses of supporters of the government held a demonstration urging the coalition to push ahead. It was the third major rally by supporters of the shakeup since the plan was announced in January. At the same time, another large protest against the bill was staged near the Knesset in Jerusalem, demanding the government halt the legislation to prevent the High Court from striking down government decisions on the grounds of their being "unreasonable."
Near midnight, a leading business forum representing 150 leading companies announced a strike for Monday, which would see some shopping centers and gas stations closed, and some businesses working in a reduced framework.
As the national crisis appeared to approach a crescendo, President Isaac Herzog, freshly returned from his US visit, rushed to Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is recuperating after having a pacemaker installed overnight. Herzog earlier said he was making a last-ditch push to promote negotiations between the coalition and opposition, with the aim of forging a consensus judicial reform package.
"This is a time of emergency. An agreement must be reached," Herzog was quoted saying in a statement from the President’s Residence. He later went to meet with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and the opposition’s Benny Gantz, head of the National Unity party.
There was no official word on the proposals discussed at the meetings. Channel 12 news reported in the evening that the gaps between the sides on a potential softening of the "reasonableness" bill were not insurmountable, and that the main sticking point was the opposition’s demand for an 18-month freeze on any further legislation, as the sides try to find consensus — a period the coalition views as too long.
The event in Tel Aviv was held under the slogan: "The people are with you, complete the legislation — 64 seats are not second class," a reference to the number of seats Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government holds in the 120-member Knesset. The overhaul supporters were seeking a show of force to counteract the massive anti-overhaul protests that have rocked the country for 29 straight weeks.
Channel 13, citing the CrowdSolutions firm, reported some 60,000 at the Tel Aviv rally, while Channel 12, citing police estimates, put the number at a little over 100,000. Organizers claimed 200,000 people were in attendance, though this could not be independently confirmed.
CrowdSolutions also reported some 60,000 at the opposition rally in Jerusalem.
Later Sunday, police used a water cannon to disperse some of the anti-overhaul demonstrators near the entrance to Jerusalem. A water cannon also fired on some of the demonstrators as they headed back to Sacher Park.
The demonstrations were held as the Knesset was holding final debates on a key part of the overhaul plan. The coalition is expected to push through legislation on Monday or Tuesday to cancel the judicial yardstick of "reasonableness" for government and ministerial decisions, enacting the law over strong political and societal objections, and despite growing announcements by key army reservists that they will stop showing up for duty, as well as diplomatic, professional, social, economic, and security concerns raised by key Israeli officials and international allies.
Speculation grew Sunday evening that the Histadrut, Israel’s largest labor federation, could announce a general strike after a compromise it had floated in an attempt to end the bitter, divisive
...politicians call things divisive when when the other side sez something they don't like. Their own statements are never divisive, they're principled ...
national standoff was quickly dismissed by the ruling Likud party, anti-government protesters and parts of the opposition.
According to the draft proposal, courts would not be able to strike down government decisions on grounds of "reasonableness" if they relate to "matters of policy" and were approved by the entire cabinet. It was not clear whether a majority of ministers would be sufficient under the proposal to shield a decision from the reasonableness test, or if a unanimous decision by all cabinet members would be required. Judges would also be barred from exercising the judicial standard to review the appointments of ministers and deputy ministers.
"All other decisions by ministers... will continue to be subject to judicial review, including per the reasonableness standard," the statement said, while adding the changes wouldn’t take effect until a government is formed after the next elections.
The proposal also called for resuming talks between coalition and opposition representatives to reach agreement "on the rest of the issues," with the government agreeing not to move forward with any further overhaul legislation in the next 18 months unless backed by at least 75 Knesset members. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government holds 64 seats in the 120-seat parliament.
As of midnight Sunday, the Histadrut had not made a decision on its next steps after its proposal was rejected. Monday’s planned strike by leading businesses was not coordinated with the Histadrut.
Overhaul supporters in Tel Aviv call for ‘protection’ from High Court, bash IDF ‘refusers’
[IsraelTimes] Among the pro-reform protesters gathered on Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street is Galit, 56, from Jaffa, who carries a sign that reads, "Protect me from the High Court of Justice." She explains that "the dictatorship today is 15 unelected people," referring to the Supreme Court justices, "who decide for me."
Galit blames the High Court for the 2004 terror attack that claimed the lives of the Hatuel family in the former Gush Katif settlement bloc in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with an iron fist by Hamaswith about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response ...
. Referring to court orders preventing the destruction of homes used by bully boyz that a former Likud justice minister tied to the attack, she says: "There are things that the High Court doesn’t need to get involved with."
Galit declines to share her last name, saying she is afraid of retribution from people who do not agree with her political view.
"I have a business in Tel Aviv to think of," she says.
Other demonstrators’ signs read: "Bibi, without the reform, there’s no right wing," and "Protect the IDF — enough with military refusers!"
"I bet media studios say there are only tens of thousands. We’re used to that fake," Transportation Minister Miri Regev of the ruling Likud party tells the crowd. She also claims the judicial overhaul is part of a process to combat discrimination against Mizrahi Jews.
"Cut the bullshit," she shouts in English.
"Let’s tell the truth: They’re dealing with maintaining their place, their elitism. And we are dealing with diversity," she says, attacking anti-overhaul critics.
A large number of protesters are visibly religious, with many saying they were bused into Tel Aviv from West Bank settlements. A group of yeshiva students sit on Kaplan Street, settling in with cups of coffee they are preparing on camping burners. Malkieli, 21, from the West Bank settlement of Yakir, says it was important for him to come to the rally to make his perspective heard.
"This whole story began because some people are more equal than others. Because I live in Samaria, my words don’t matter. They can cancel what I think," Malkieli says, using a biblical term for part of the West Bank.
"We’re here to express that," he adds, gesturing to the group of fellow yeshiva students who traveled with him on the bus from Kiryat Arba.
Malikieli also declines to share his last name or show his face, saying that he is "afraid."
"There are some not good voices right now. I’m worried they’ll twist my words."
Overhaul architect Levin tells pro-reform rally bill must pass, for democracy’s sake
[IsraelTimes] Speaking to the Tel Aviv pro-government rally via video link from the Knesset, Justice Minister and judicial overhaul architect Yariv Levin declares that it is he and the coalition who are fighting for democracy, decrying IDF reservists who have declared they will stop performing reserve duty if the coalition’s bill to limit the courts’ use of the reasonableness doctrine is passed into law.
The minister, who has been the driving force behind the efforts to remake Israel’s judiciary and legal system, claims it is those refusing to serve in the IDF reserves due to the coalition’s radical legal reforms who are the ones threatening Israeli democracy, not the proponents of the overhaul program itself.
"We are facing one of the most important decisions the country has ever known. Will we be a democracy or will we become a country controlled by a group of officers led by Ehud Barak?" Levin said, referring to the former prime minister, who is a fervid opponent of the current government and the judicial overhaul.
A fervid opponent of any non-Left government, though he has a particular animus for Bibi Netanyahu, along with the rest of what used to be called the Establishment. “The merit that we have to take part in the defense of the State of Israel does not put any of us above the people or in place of the people. Refusal [to perform reserve duty] crosses a red line. Surrendering to refusal to serve, that is the real end of democracy," declares the justice minister.
"We will continue to stand firmly on guard for democracy, on guard for the position of the Knesset and the government. On guard for the choice of the electorate. Passing the law will be the strongest and clearest evidence of this." 
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