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Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv again to protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to overhaul the judiciary.
Some sources said as many as 100,000 people took part in the protest on Saturday night.
It followed another demonstration last week that also drew tens of thousands of people in an early challenge to Mr Netanyahu and his ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox government – the most right-wing in Israel’s history .
Opponents of the judicial reform claim it endangers the country’s democratic foundations.
But the government says the power imbalance gives judges and government counsel too much leverage over legislation and governance.
Despite opposition, Mr Netanyahu has pledged to press ahead with reforms.
During the latest demonstrations, protesters filled the city’s streets, holding up Israeli flags and signs reading “Supreme Court” and “Israel, we have problems”.
Opposition leader and former prime minister Yar Rapide was also among them. “This is a protest to defend the country. People are here today to protect their democracy,” he said.
Protester Lior Student said: “All generations care. This is not a joke. This is a complete redefinition of democracy.”
Other protests took place in the cities of Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheva.
Beyond the protests, Mr Netanyahu’s government is under pressure after the Supreme Court ruled that he was disqualified from government office after he was convicted of tax violations and the country’s attorney general asked him to fire a key cabinet member ally.
While Mr Netanyahu is expected to defer to the court’s ruling, it will only deepen divisions in the country over the judicial system and the powers of the courts.
Opponents also say judicial reform could help Mr. Netanyahu evade conviction in his own corruption trial, or make the court case disappear entirely.
“Our goal is to save only one person, and only one person – that’s Mr Netanyahu, from trial, that’s why I’m here,” one protester said on Saturday.
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