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Mass Protests Engulf Israel As Water Cannons, Detentions and Arson Ensue

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Thousands have been protesting against Israel's judicial reform for 12 weeks now. The draft law presented by Justice Minister Yariv Levin in January, if adopted, will significantly curtail the powers of the Israeli Supreme Court and give the government control over the procedure of appointing judges.
On March 25, nearly 300,000 demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv alone, Israeli media reported, saying that overall 630,000 people took to the streets across the country.
For three months now, thousands have been demonstrating throughout Israel against the Netanyahu administration's judicial reform bid.
The protests are accompanied by riots, street closures, disruption of public transportation, government agencies and banks. The police often use force to disperse the protesters and arrest the most boisterous demonstrators.
The most recent rallies were set off by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who became the first key Israeli minister to call for a halt to the judicial reform.
In January, Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin rolled out a legal reform package that would limit the authority of the Supreme Court by giving the cabinet control over the selection of new judges, as well as allowing the Knesset to override the court's rulings with an absolute majority. In mid-February, the Israeli parliament approved the first part of the legislation. The second half was approved by the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, at the beginning of March.
Take a look at recent mass protests as thousands of people have taken to the streets across Israel in Sputnik's gallery:
© AP Photo / Ohad Zwigenberg

Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Sputnik International
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Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

© AP Photo / Oren Ziv

Israeli police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators blocking a highway during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Israeli police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators blocking a highway during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Sputnik International
2/10

Israeli police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators blocking a highway during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system in Tel Aviv, Israel.

© AFP 2023 / Ahmad Gharabli

Protesters block a road and hold national flags as they gather around a bonfire during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Protesters block a road and hold national flags as they gather around a bonfire during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Sputnik International
3/10

Protesters block a road and hold national flags as they gather around a bonfire during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel.

© AP Photo / Oren Ziv

Israeli police disperse demonstrators blocking a highway during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Israeli police disperse demonstrators blocking a highway during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Sputnik International
4/10

Israeli police disperse demonstrators blocking a highway during a protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system in Tel Aviv, Israel.

© AFP 2023 / Ahmad Gharabli

Demonstrators chant and wave national flags during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reforms outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, on March.

Demonstrators chant and wave national flags during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reforms outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, on March. - Sputnik International
5/10

Demonstrators chant and wave national flags during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reforms outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, on March.

© AFP 2023 / Ahnad Gharabli

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Sputnik International
6/10

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel.

© AFP 2023 / Ahmad Gharabli

Protesters block a road as they gather around a bonfire during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Protesters block a road as they gather around a bonfire during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Sputnik International
7/10

Protesters block a road as they gather around a bonfire during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel.

© AFP 2023 / Ahmad Gharabli

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Sputnik International
8/10

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel.

© AFP 2023 / Ahmad Gharabli

Israeli protesters lift a banner depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally against the government's controversial judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv.

Israeli protesters lift a banner depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally against the government's controversial judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv. - Sputnik International
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Israeli protesters lift a banner depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a rally against the government's controversial judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv.

© AP Photo / Oren Ziv

Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan set up bonfires and block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan set up bonfires and block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Sputnik International
10/10

Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan set up bonfires and block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel.

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