International
Agitation in Israel to continue until judicial ‘reform’ is gone, say protestors
A day after massive protests were witnessed on the streets of the Israeli city of Tel Aviv following the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to fire his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over his opposition to a planned judicial overhaul; protestors claimed that agitation will continue until they achieve their demands.
The protestors have vowed to continue their agitation until judicial ‘reform’ is gone, Al Jazeera reported.
Waving Israeli flags and chanting “democratia,” protestors could be seen blocking streets and bridges, including the Ayalon Highway.
People had been protesting against the proposed reforms for months, but after news of Netanyahu firing Gallant one day after the latter called for a halt to the process, tens of thousands gathered in the streets in a show of spontaneous anger.
This week, Netanyahu announced a delay in his judicial overhaul plan, saying he wanted to give time to seek a compromise over the contentious package with his political opponents.
Earlier, Israeli embassies and diplomatic missions worldwide were closed following protests against Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan, media reports suggested.
According to Reuters, a letter, citing a nationwide strike in Israel declared by the Histadrut labour federation, said Foreign Ministry activities in the country and abroad would be limited to emergency services.
Israel is witnessing a historic protest over a judicial reform, which seeks to override verdicts by the Supreme Court.
Massive protests have erupted in the country, with private and government officials voicing their concerns against the bill pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Today, Israel’s labour federation instructed its staff at embassies worldwide to join the strike. It said the foreign ministry activities in the country and abroad would be limited to emergency services.
On Monday, Israel’s national labour union shut down the country’s busiest airport in Tel Aviv and blocked roads in the city of Ra’anana.
American fast food giant McDonald’s shut down all its branches as part of the general strike.
Israel’s Haaretz reported that at least 80,000 protesters had gathered outside Knesset, the parliament of the country.
Also, three protesters entered Knesset, shouting at Likud’s Education Minister Yoav Kish to resign before being escorted out.
The Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC has also been closed until further notice.
Embassy spokesperson Elad Strohmayer said: “The Embassy of Israel will be closed today until further notice and no consular services will be provided.
He said the Histadrut, Israel’s largest labor union, instructed all government employees to go on strike, including Israel’s diplomatic missions around the world.
