2023 Israeli judicial reform protests

2023 Israeli judicial reform protests
Part of the reactions to the 2023 Israeli judicial reform
Top to bottom, left to right:
  • Mass protests in Ayalon on 26 March 2023 after Netanyahu fires Gallant
  • Protesters lighting up a flare
  • Police disperse protesters with stun grenades
  • Protest against the judicial reform near Tel Aviv's Azrieli Center on 4 March 2023
Date7 January – 12 October 2023
(9 months and 5 days)
Location
Israel, with solidarity protests in the United States

32°04′21″N 34°46′48″E / 32.0725°N 34.7800°E / 32.0725; 34.7800
Caused by2023 Israeli judicial reform
StatusEnded
Parties
Lead figures
Casualties
Injuries128 protesters (3 seriously injured),[4] 39 police officers (per police sources)[5][6]
Arrested1,000+
Charged7
Fined200+

From January to October 2023, large-scale protests took place across Israel in response to the government's push for a wide-ranging judicial reform. The proposed reform aimed to give the government full control of the Supreme Court or court decisions through various ways.[7] The government also attempted to dismantle the Israel Bar Association and change the makeup of the Judicial Selection Committee.[8]

The reform was promoted by Justice Minister Yariv Levin with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leaders of the other parties in the governing coalition,[9][10] but was opposed by opposition parties as well as a large segment of the Israeli public. They were faced with questions on how much, if at all, they should focus on Palestinian rights.[11] Statements by Israeli figures linked the aim of the reform to the expansion of Israeli settlements and further annexation of Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.[12] The protests were effective in delaying the reform,[13] and the ruling coalition would have lost 11 seats in a new round of elections according to polls published by September 2023.[14] In July 2023, the Knesset passed a law to abolish the Supreme Court's ability to review government actions on grounds of reasonableness, but it was repealed by the Supreme Court on 1 January 2024.[15]

The protests came to an end following the 7 October attacks and the ensuing Israel–Hamas war, with sporadic demonstrations continuing until the formation of a war cabinet on 12 October.[16][17][18][19] The protests partially resumed in 2024, as part of broader protests in the country related to the war.[20]

  1. ^ "Israelis stage massive protests after government pushes through key reform". CBS News. 29 July 2023. Archived from the original on 31 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Israel: What was the now abolished 'reasonableness standard'?". Middle East Eye. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Liberman: Netanyahu an immediate danger to the existence of the state". Times of Israel. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  4. ^ רימוני הלם, פרשים ומכת"זיות: מהומות קשות במחאות נגד הרפורמה בת"א; חייל עוכב בנגב לאחר "ששעט עם משאית לעבר מפגינים" | ישראל היום [Stun grenades, horsemen and stun grenades: severe riots in anti-reform protests in Tel Aviv; A soldier was detained in the Negev after 'driving a truck towards protesters']. Israel Hayom (in Hebrew). March 2023. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  5. ^ התפרעויות המפגינים | "האירוע בתל אביב היה אלים וברוטלי" [Riots of the demonstrators | 'The incident in Tel Aviv was violent and brutal']. Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). 2 March 2023. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  6. ^ המשטרה: שני שוטרים ננשכו על ידי מפגינים בת"א ופונו לטיפול רפואי – וואלה! חדשות [Police: two policemen were bitten by protesters in Tel Aviv and were taken to medical treatment]. Walla! (in Hebrew). 25 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  7. ^ Segev, Joshua (1 March 2024). "The 2023 Judicial Reform That Wasn't: From Non-decision Constitution-Making to Decision and Back". Israel Studies Review. 39 (1): 39. doi:10.3167/isr.2024.390103. ISSN 2159-0370.
  8. ^ "להיכן הגיעה ההפיכה המשטרית? תמונת מצב של בליץ החקיקה". Haaretz.
  9. ^ Peleg, Bar; Breiner, Josh; Freidson, Yael; Hashmonai, Adi; Shimoni, Ran (15 January 2023). "Israel Protest | 'We Are Not Afraid': 80,000 Demonstrate Extremist Netanyahu Gov't in Tel Aviv". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  10. ^ Pfeffer, Anshel (15 January 2023). "The Tel Aviv Protest Was a Success, but It's Only the First Test in a Long Struggle". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Liberal US Jews urge greater focus on Palestinians in Israeli anti-overhaul protests". The Times of Israel. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference WPEC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "Israel government to delay disputed judiciary bill amid mass protests". Reuters.
  14. ^ "סקר ערוץ 13: הקואליציה עם 53 מנדטים, גנץ ממשיך להוביל על נתניהו". Haaretz.
  15. ^ "i24NEWS". www.i24news.tv. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  16. ^ "Israeli protests reignite as Netanyahu pushes new justice bill". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 10 July 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  17. ^ Margalit, Ruth (27 September 2023). "How Benjamin Netanyahu Pushed Israel Into Chaos". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 September 2023.
  18. ^ Lev Ram, Tal (7 October 2023). "ב"אחים לנשק" מפסיקים את המחאה: "קוראים להתייצב להגנת ישראל"" [Brothers in Arms call to stop the protests: "They call to stand up for the defense of Israel"]. Maariv. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  19. ^ Bohbot, Amir (7 October 2023). "המחאה מתגייסת: אחים לנשק הודיעו על תמיכה בגיוס מילואים" [The protesters are mobilizing: Brothers in Arms announced their support for the recruitment of reserves]. Walla! (in Hebrew). Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  20. ^ "ההפיכה משתוללת, אנחנו בסכנה למשטר טוטליטרי: האזהרה המדהימה של שופטת העליון ענת ברון". Haaretz.