'Defeat the dictatorship': Judicial reform protests resume across Israel

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv's Kaplan Street to protest against the Israeli government's judicial reform on Saturday evening, as the protest continued into its 30th consecutive weekend, with demonstrations taking place in some 150 sites throughout the country.

Israel Police began an investigation into suspected insult and defamation of public servants after pictures of police officers were handed out at the protest in Tel Aviv, Walla reported.

The students' protest organization reacted by stating: "The police decision not to investigate violent officers, but instead to investigate those who point out their violence, is absurd. The pictures were intended to bring the violent acts from last week to the public's attention. Our heart is with the victims of the police violence, who ended up in hospital after the demonstration. We will not be intimidated."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the police officers' conduct and criticized the protesters' actions in a Saturday evening statement: "The campaign of shaming and incitement by a group of anarchists against the heroic Tel Aviv police officers, who protect the security of the residents of Tel Aviv and the citizens of Israel and who have been working devotedly every week for six months to enforce the law and maintain public order, is shocking and crosses any red line. I support the heroic Israel Police officers."

The protest march began at a Tel Aviv police station

Prior to the main demonstration in Kaplan, a march started from the Lev Tel Aviv police station in protest of the police violence last Monday, Maariv reported.

Fireworks at an anti-judicial reform protest in Tel Aviv, July 29, 2023 (ISRAEL POLICE SPOKESPERSON).

Israel Police on Saturday evening also clarified that it would show no tolerance for harm to police officers, infrastructure and state symbols after some protesters set off fireworks above the protesting crowd at the central demonstration in Tel Aviv.

Attendees of the demonstration on Kaplan included former Bank of Israel Governor Prof. Yaakov Frankel, as well as demonstrators from the Brothers in Arms, hi-tech, and student protests.

Later on Saturday night, a protester was lightly injured after being hit by a car in Tel Aviv. Police reported that the driver had been detained and was being questioned.

In Rehovot, the Science Park junction was closed to traffic as thousands gathered to protest and listen to speeches by Gal Cohen, one of the leaders of the Hi-tech workers' protest and Lihi Lapid, opposition leader Yair Lapid's wife, among others.

Around 2,500 people were reportedly protesting at Karkur junction. A 15-year-old boy was arrested at the demonstration but was let go with a warning shortly after according to Kan.

About 2,000 people protested at Nahalal junction, a thousand protesters gathered at Gome junction according to Kan, while one hundred people gathered at Kabri junction, according to Walla.

Demonstrations took place in locations across the country, including Haifa, Beersheba, Jerusalem, Kfar Saba, Rosh Pina, Herzliya, Modi'in, etc.

"This week the State of Israel entered a new phase in which the Israeli government actually began taking over the Supreme Court with the aim of turning Israel into a state of one authority," protest organizers said before the start of the protest. "This is a complete destruction of the Israeli people's army, society, and economy. We will increase the protests until we return Israel to being democratic."

"After the passage of the legislation last Monday, the Israeli government has become an illegitimate government that is undermining the foundations of the Israeli regime."

The protest organization "Kaplan Force" also released a statement before the demonstration, saying that "The only chance to save the State of Israel, the people's army, and the economy lies with the hundreds of thousands who will go out to protest. Israel is on the fast land to become Hungary and Turkey. The ridiculous performances by Likud MKs, acting as if they will revolt are only a smoke screen that aims to buy silence for the dictator Netanyahu to complete his coup. But, alas, silence he won't get - the people of Israel will defeat the dictatorship."

Roads blocked to traffic

In preparation for the demonstrations, traffic blockades will start at around 5 p.m., with most of them in Tel Aviv, Maariv reported.

Kaplan Street will be blocked from Ibn Gvirol Street to Menachem Begin Street in both directions. The Kaplan intersection through Menachem Begin Street will be blocked from its north and south entrances.

The Gesher HaShalom ramps will be closed from its north and south, and it will not be possible to go down to Highway 20. The Yigal Alon intersection HaShalom will be blocked from its south and west entrances, and the street will also be blocked from Aminadav.

Police warn that due to the blockades, there may be heavy traffic throughout Tel Aviv.