Israeli protestors kick off 24th weekly judicial reform demonstrations

The protests against the government's plans for judicial reform continued for the 24th straight week in demonstrations across Israel on Saturday evening.

Demonstrations in over 150 locations were held, while the central demonstration, as usual, was held on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv. Before the main protest, a weekly march began from Dizengoff Square.

The first protests of the day began in Israel's north, at Nahalal and Karkur junctions, while demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Rehovot, Rosh Haayin, Holon, Arad, Ramat Hasharon and Herzliya began shortly after. 

At the protest in Ramat Hasharon, Yesh Atid MK Karin Elharrar told the crowd according to Ynet: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proved to us that he isn't a leader anymore and isn't in control. He is weak against his partners and his party - he doesn't have a majority, not among the people and not in the Knesset."

"A regime coup means the destruction of the state of Israel. The citizens deserve a non-political judicial system. This crazy reform will not pass," added Elharrar, who was recently elected as opposition representative in the judge selection committee in a dramatic Knesset vote.

In Tel Aviv, former justice and foreign minister Tzipi Livni, Chairman of the Attorney's Office Amit Bachar, hi-tech entrepreneur Ran Har Nebo and Or-Lee Barlev, an independent journalist gave speeches, while singer Si Heyman entertained the crowd.

"The justice minister and his friends are determined to pass the reform, but we're more determined. This is a government that is harming rights while talking about agreements, and under the auspices of agreements they want to continue to rape democracy and claim that it was by agreement," Walla reported Livni saying in her speech.

At the protest in Karkur, dozens of people waved Israeli flags in protest against the government, with police forces on the scene to maintain order and direct car traffic.

In Nahalal, around 1,200 people demonstrated and listened to speeches by Dr. Gail Talshir, a researcher from the Hebrew University, Omeima Hamed, a social activist from Nazareth and Dr. Shahaf Gal from the Movement for the Quality of Government, among others.

The aftermath of the judge selection vote debacle

This week's protests come after the dramatic events in the Knesset during the vote for the Judge Selection Committee on Wednesday, which led to the freeze of the negotiations that were held between the coalition and the opposition in the President's Residence for the last months.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin added fuel to the protests' fire by saying on Friday: "At the end of a difficult week, I am more determined than ever to continue and do everything to pass the necessary reforms to fix the justice system. Thank you all for the important support in the steps I am making for a fair justice system."

"Netanyahu must fire Levin, who brought about the destruction of the economy and is tearing the people apart anew. Levin has once again declared war against Israeli democracy," protest organizers responded to Levin's comments and called for the public to continue protesting.