Israelis continue to protest against new government

Thousands of Israelis have gathered in Tel Aviv to protest plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to overhaul the judicial system, measures opponents say endanger the country’s democratic foundations.

Israeli media quoted the police as saying that about 100,000 people went out to protest.

Another demonstration last week also drew tens of thousands into protests, an early challenge to Mr Netanyahu and his ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox government – the most right-wing in Israel’s history .

The government says the power imbalance gives judges and government counsel too much leverage over legislation and governance.

Protesters filled the central streets of the seaside metropolis, holding up Israeli flags and signs reading “Supreme Court” and “Israel, we have problems”.

“All generations care. This is no joke,” protester Lior Student said.

“It’s a complete redefinition of democracy.”

Other protests took place in the cities of Jerusalem, Haifa and Beersheva.

Aside from the protests, after the country’s attorney general asked Netanyahu to fire a key cabinet ally after the Supreme Court ruled that Netanyahu was convicted of tax violations and disqualified him from holding government positions, the Pressure is also mounting on Tanyahu’s government.

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.

Earlier this week, Mr Netanyahu, who was on trial for corruption, vowed to continue a judicial reform plan amid protests.

Opponents say the changes could help Mr. Netanyahu evade conviction in a corruption trial or allow the court case to disappear entirely.

One protester said she believed the judicial changes were aimed at protecting Mr Netanyahu: “The aim was to save one person, and only one – and that was Mr Netanyahu from trial, and that was me. The reason for coming here.”