Israel protests | As it happened: At least 80,000 protesters gather outside parliament; Netanyahu urges protesters to avoid violence

The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), late Monday released a statement saying that they were "deeply concerned" about Israeli Defense Minister Gallant's dismissal and "the plan to move forward with legislation undermining the power of Israel's judiciary." 

It added, "We stand with the hundreds of thousands of Israelis protesting nationwide in defense of democracy."

 

A report by the Times of Israel citing police sources says that three demonstrators in Jerusalem have been arrested for allegedly attacking officers. This comes as roads around the Israeli parliament have been blocked as the police attempt to disperse the protesters. 

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich while saying that the government should not freeze its judicial overhaul plans added that he will be present at the right-wing rally in Jerusalem which is supposed to take place at 6:00 pm (local time), later today. 

"Come to Jerusalem. We must not stop the reform aimed at fixing the justice system and Israeli democracy. We must not surrender to violence, anarchy, military service refusals and wild strikes," said Smotrich, in a statement. 

He added, "We are the majority, let’s make our voice heard. We won’t let our vote and the state be stolen from us." 

The Israeli media citing police sources have said that around 80,000 people have gathered outside the parliament in protest of PM Netanyahu's judicial reform plan. Meanwhile, as the pro-overhaul rally gains momentum, the police have also ramped up security outside the Knesset expecting violent clashes between the two groups. 

Israel's Airport Authority Committee Chairman Pinhas Idan, on Monday, announced that there will be no flights taking off from Ben Gurion Airport until further notice. Additionally, only flights that are already in the sky will be allowed to land, said a media report citing the official. 

In a statement, Europe’s largest Jewish organization called on PM Netanyahu to halt his government's judicial overhaul while expressing their "deep concern" at the latest developments in Israel.

"Committed to the security and prosperity of the Jewish state based upon the values enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the EJC (European Jewish Congress), representing the national Jewish umbrella organisations of more than 40 European countries, call upon the government of Israel to immediately suspend proposed legislation on judicial reform". 

Workers from a range of sectors in Israel launched a nationwide strike on Monday (March 27) including Israel’s largest trade union and its 800,000 members. Additionally, the Histadrut national labour union calling for a strike also instructed all government employees to stage a walkout, in line with which diplomats from across the world walked off the job at foreign missions. 

The strike was confirmed by a spokesperson for Israel’s Embassy in the United States who took to Twitter and wrote, "The Embassy of Israel will be closed today until further notice and no consular services will be provided."

(Photos: Reuters)

The Israeli media citing a footage report, that two protesters enter the Knesset building and shouted at Education Minister Yoav Kisch asking him to resign. Kisch is also a part of Netanyahu's coalition government. Subsequently, the two were detained by the security guards and escorted outside. 

Opposition leader Yair Lapid while addressing the protesters gathered outside the Israeli parliament (Knesset) said "no government gave us our rights and no government will take our rights. There is one thing that the extremists in the government didn’t take into account: You." 

He added, "We won’t shut up and we won’t rest until the State of Israel has a constitution," as the crowd went on to chant "Constitution! Constitution!", reported Times of Israel. Notably, Israel has no written constitution and is governed by the country's Basic Laws and has "evolved a system of basic laws and rights, which enjoy semi-constitutional status," says the Knesset website.  

According to a report by Times of Israel, many members from Netanyahu's coalition government have shared posters urging supporters of the government and its judicial overhaul to attend a demonstration at 6:00 (local time) in Jerusalem.

It has been dubbed as an "emergency" as the Israeli PM is expected to announce a pause in the legal reform plan amid widespread protests. 

Israeli PM in his first public statement since widespread demonstrations erupted last night. Netanyahu took to Twitter and called on all protesters in Jerusalem to "show responsibility and not act violently.” 

This comes amid fears of violent clashes erupting between opponents and supporters of the government’s judicial overhaul this evening in Jerusalem. 

Israeli police have announced that they will ramp up security ahead of right-wing group La Familia's rally which will now be held outside the Knesset in Jerusalem this evening instead of the previously announcement of holding it in Tel Aviv. 

La Familia has a history of violence during its protests and other activities, reported Times of Israel. Therefore, expecting clashes between the group and thousands of anti-overhaul protesters near the Knesset, the police have said they will boost their presence in the area.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin said that he will "respect" PM Netanyahu's decision on how to proceed with the proposed overhaul plan, reported Times of Israel. However, he also warned how stopping it now may lead to the immediate "collapse of Likud", Netanyahu's right-wing ruling coalition. 

"We must all make an effort to stabilize the government and the coalition", said Levin. This also comes after many party members have said that they will stand behind Netanyahu's decision. 

The umbrella group of protest organisations warns demonstrators returning to Tel Aviv from Jerusalem this evening not to use the Hashalom train. 

"We are telling the protesters not to go there or make contact with them," said the protesters in a statement. 

This comes after La Familia, which is said to be a right-wing group with a history of racism and violence has announced that they will be gathering at the Tel Aviv interchange, a central rallying point for the protests against the legal reform plan. 

"Until now we have stayed quiet, tonight at 8 p.m. we will arrive at Kaplan", said the La Familia, in a statement. 

The coalition government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu survived a no-confidence motion which was tabled by the opposition which has been protesting against the judicial overhaul plan. Knesset speaker said that the motion failed by a vote of 59-53.

The chain of McDonald’s in Israel announced that it will also take part in the strike by shutting down its branches nationwide starting from noon. The chain has around 200 stores across the country - both kosher and non-kosher - and is the country's largest burger franchise.

Thousands of protesters gathers outside the Knesset in Jerusalem as well as in central Tel Aviv as the demonstrations against judicial overhaul showed no sign of abating. Trains to Jerusalem remained packed as protesters from across the country are moving towards the capital for the central protest. Ayalon Highway has again been blocked by protesters at Hashalom interchange in Tel Aviv.

Protests have escalated in Israel against PM Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plans as multiple strikes have been called by the union and the medical associations a day after the leader fired his defence minister. Thousands have poured onto streets across the nation and protests have erupted in the parliament as the unrest deepens. 

Yair Lapid, Israel's opposition leader, on Monday called upon the coalition to discuss PM Netanyahu's plan for judicial overhaul and subsequent mass protests. Lapid also asked the prime minister to take back his decision to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after the latter publicly called for a halt to the legislative overhaul of the coalition. "Defence Minister Gallant was fired for one reason only – he was telling the truth. He did not threaten, he did not issue an ultimatum; he warned against the collapse of the people’s army in the face of a government that is trying to dismiss reality,” Lapid said.

The watchdog, Movement for Quality Government in Israel, has filed a petition against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision of firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the High Court. 

The minister was dismissed by Netanyahu yesterday, a day after the government was called by the minister to end its legislative efforts aimed at upending the judiciary. 

The watchdog has appealed for an interim order to stop the firing of the minister, claiming that it goes against the conflict of interest agreement of the prime minister - the deal that permits him to govern amid his ongoing corruption trial.
 

The health ministry stated that it respects people's right to protest. The ministry stated that officials have been in touch with the directors of all health systems and hospital heads to ensure that people seeking medical services receive proper care. Officials stated that they would take part in the nationwide strike which was called by Histadrut union head Arnon Bar-David. 

Plane departures at Ben Gurion Airport were halted after The workers union called for an immediate strike, minutes after the head of the Histadrut head announced a “historic” labor strike in an attempt to “stop the madness” of the government’s controversial judicial overhaul, Times of Israel newspaper reported.

“I ordered the immediate halt of takeoffs at the airport,” says Pinchas Idan, head of the workers union at Ben Gurion Airport, was quoted as saying.

He said that the strike will begin as soon as today if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not announce a halt to the controversial judicial overhaul.

The Times of Isreal newspaper reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public statement that was schduled for 10 am (local time) has been delayed.

It is being reported that the far-right parties in his coalition are threatening to break up the government if he halts the judicial overhaul.

So far, no new time has been allocated for the speech, which had been expected to include an announcement of a freeze to the controversial legislation.

Channel 12 news reports that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to quit the coalition, during a meeting of faction heads.

'I am calling a general strike,' Arnon Bar-David, chairman of Israel's top trade union, said in a televised address, adding that 'from the moment this press conference ends, the State of Israel stops'.

Opposition Yisrael Beytenu party chief Avigdor Liberman said that he hopes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decides to steps down during his expected announcement on halting the overhaul of legislation. He added that Likud party should find a new leader if he doesn’t.

“It turns out it works. No dictator is able to stand up to a broad and just public protest that encompasses all parts of the population,” Liberman tweets.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to announce a halt to the judicial overhaul reform, according to multiple reports in Hebrew-language media. The reports cite “sources close to the prime minister” for the information, but do not give further details. According to the Kan public broadcaster, Netanyahu will speak at 10:30 am at the Knesset after he held talks with allies on the matter overnight.

Those leading the protests in Israel have called for a mass gathering outside the Knesset at 2 pm on Monday. “We will not be allow any compromise that harms the independence of the Supreme Court,” they said. The leaders also called for Yoav Gallant to be immediately reinstated as defence minister. Buses have been put in place to bring in protesters from around the country.

The Israeli parliament, Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee will open Monday morning, gearing to send the judicial reform bill for final votes. The Knesset plenum is scheduled to reopen at 10 am. It is set to approve Supreme Court critic David Amsalem as a second minister in the Justice ministry today.

A night of mass protests has seen several prominent figures come out and call for a halt to the judicial reform. Netanyahu's attorney Boaz Ben Tzur, a key member of the Prime Minister's legal defence team, has reportedly told him that he will not continue to represent him in Case 4000 unless he stops the judicial overhaul.

Protests in Israel have led to calls from within the coalition to halt the judicial reform. President of the country, Isaac Herzog, also said the judicial reform must stop "immediately".

Protesters swarmed the streets of Tel Aviv late Sunday night after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his cabinet's defence minister after he opposed his proposed judicial overhaul. People chanted "democratice" and blocked streets and bridges, including the Ayalon Highway, a major intracity freeway. 

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