Police disperse protesters blocking Ayalon Highway amid anti-overhaul rally

Crowds gather for 15th week of protests against judicial overhaul

Protesters gather with flags amid ongoing demonstrations against the government's judicial overhaul plans, in Tel Aviv on April 15, 2023. (Jack Guez/AFP)

Crowds are beginning to gather at around 150 locations across the country in the 15th week of protests against the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary.

The main protest is taking place on Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street. Previous weeks have seen nearly 200,000 people participate in the rally in Tel Aviv.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been holding huge protests in Tel Aviv and nationwide against the government’s judicial overhaul plans every Saturday for the last 15 weeks, with demonstrations carrying on after the coalition paused the legislation to allow a period of dialogue on its highly divisive efforts to weaken the justice system.

Kaplan street in Tel Aviv rig where the demonstration against Netanyahu's judicial overhaul will begin shortly pic.twitter.com/3NQKhubv8x

— Barak Ravid (@BarakRavid) April 15, 2023

קפלן תל אביב pic.twitter.com/qzwFmEHfVF

— Shlomi Liberman (@shlomi_lib) April 15, 2023

Palestinian minor with knife detained at checkpoint near Jerusalem

Palestinian workers stream into the Qalandiya checkpoint in northern Jerusalem on April 16, 2019. (Adam Rasgon/Times of Israel)

Police say a Palestinian minor who was acting suspiciously near the Qalandiya checkpoint, north of Jerusalem, is detained and found to be carrying a knife.

“A civilian security guard manning the crossing together with a policeman… identified that the suspect was hiding a knife in his underwear,” a police spokesperson said.

Security forces fired into the air during the arrest of the Palestinian minor, a resident of the nearby village of al-Jib.

“The circumstances of the incident are under review,” police add.

Police bolster forces in Netanya fearing clashes between anti-overhaul demonstrators and counter protesters

Protesters against the judicial overhaul in Netanaya, April 15, 2023. (Ben Cohen/Courtesy)

Police say they have bolstered forces in the coastal city of Netanya, fearing clashes at rallies tonight in the city. Both those against the government’s plans to radically overhaul the judiciary and its supporters will hold protests.

In a statement, police say the Central District commander, Avi Biton, “decided to increase police forces on the ground and at the same time increase the area of separation between the protestors’ camps in order to increase the area of ​​the demonstration, prevent possible friction between the camps and thus ensure their safety.”

Likud’s Amsalem calls to put Supreme Court President Hayut, former chief justice Barak on trial

Likud MK David Amsalem speaks in the Knesset in Jerusalem, on March 13, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Likud’s David Amsalem calls to put Supreme Court President Esther Hayut and former chief justice Aharon Barak on trial for “an attempted coup” following mass protests across the nation for months over the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary.

“What has happened in Israel in the last 3 months is an attempted coup started by Aharon Barak. He and Hayut should stand trial for this,” Amsalem tells Channel 12 news, noting the supreme court president’s extraordinary speech against the government’s legal shakeup plans.

“Today there is total anarchy. A commission of inquiry should be established,” he says.

Amsalem was recently installed as a second minister within the Justice Ministry.

Netanyahu sources: Moody’s doesn’t really understand details of judicial overhaul

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem on April 2, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Pool/Flash90)

Channel 12 news quotes “sources close to the prime minister” — often code for messages conveyed on behalf of the premier himself — as criticizing the global ratings agency Moody’s for downgrading Israel’s credit outlook from positive to stable.

The sources say ratings agencies such as Moody’s “are being affected by the atmosphere. They have friends in Israel who are telling them tales. Are they well-versed [on the issue]? Not at all. In conversations with them, we discovered that they don’t really understand the details.”

For example, the source said, “They were not aware of Netanyahu saying the court override would not pass as [Justice Minister] Yariv Levin had presented it — and it was the override clause that troubled them most.”

The network noted that Moody’s latest assessment follows months of conversations with top economic and treasury officials.

The sources also added, however, that, “The very fact that only the outlook was updated and not the rating itself — despite an aggressive campaign by the protest movement — shows that they too understand that the Israeli economy is strong.”

Netanyahu, Smotrich respond to Moody’s downgrade: ‘With God’s help’ Israel’s economy will remain strong

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich arrive at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on February 23, 2023. (Alex Kolomoisky/Pool)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich issue a joint statement responding to leading ratings agency Moody’s, which yesterday downgraded Israel’s economic outlook from positive to stable.

“Israel’s economy is stable and solid and with God’s help, it will remain so,” the statement reads.

“The analysts at the Moody’s ratings agency correctly recognize the strength of the Israeli economy in all indexes and the correct and responsible economic leadership that we lead, with the wise management of public spending and in the advancement of growth-encouraging reforms,” it says.

Responding to Moody’s assessment that the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary have impacted Israel’s credit outlook, Netanyahu and Smotrich say: “The concern that Moody’s analysts raise about the public controversy and its effect on Israel’s political and economic stability is natural for those who do not know the strength of Israeli society.”

“As those who believe in the strength of Israeli society, its unity, and its ability to overcome disputes and crises, as we have done many times in the past, we are convinced that with God’s help, it will be so this time as well,” the statement adds.

Over 115,000 estimated at main anti-overhaul protest in Tel Aviv

Protesters against the judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv, April 15, 2023. (Amir Goldstein/Courtesy)

Channel 12 news citing estimates says over 115,000 people are currently protesting at the main anti-overhaul rally on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv.

There are tens of thousands more protesting at over 150 locations across the country.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been holding huge protests in Tel Aviv and nationwide against the government’s judicial overhaul plans every Saturday for the last 15 weeks, with demonstrations carrying on after the coalition paused the legislation to allow a period of dialogue on its highly divisive efforts to weaken the justice system.

Israeli media reporting that there are 115,000
People in The main demonstration in Kaplan St, Tel Aviv

📸: Itay Arbel pic.twitter.com/pUZ79aQ46H

— Yonat Friling (Frühling) (@FrilingYonat) April 15, 2023

Small counter-demonstration held as thousands protest outside President’s Residence in Jerusalem

Supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government's plans to overhaul the judiciary hold a counter-protest as thousands demonstrate outside the President's Residence in Jerusalem, April 15, 2023. (DH/Times of Israel)

A handful of supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary hold a counter-protest as thousands demonstrate outside the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.

The protesters shout at the anti-overhaul demonstrators: “Bolsheviks go back to where you came from.”

At the rally against the judicial overhaul, the crowd shouts “shame” as speakers mention Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Constitution Committee head MK Simcha Rothman — who are leading the overhaul push — as well as far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Police close Ayalon Highway as some protesters try to block thoroughfare in Tel Aviv

Police say officers have blocked the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv after some protesters tried to enter the thoroughfare and disrupt traffic.

According to police, around 200 protesters tried to enter the highway at Yitzhak Sadeh Street.

The highway is blocked between the Rokach and Kibbutz Galuyot junctions.

ביוזמת המשטרה: איילון נחסם לתנועה | כל העדכונים מהשבת ה-15 למחאה >>> https://t.co/3Za9UN7KlH@ittaishick pic.twitter.com/XHMhCa0DnI

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) April 15, 2023

Police say they are readying to clear protesters from Ayalon Highway

Around 30 protesters have entered the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, police say.

A short while ago, police blocked traffic on the highway in both directions, as a group of protesters attempted to enter the thoroughfare.

“Police forces are preparing to disperse them,” a spokesperson says.

One detained for setting a fire on Ayalon Highway

Police say officers have detained one person for setting a fire on the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv.

A police spokesperson says a water cannon has arrived at the scene and is preparing to disperse protesters who are blocking the highway.

מפגין שהדליק מדורה על הכביש נעצר, מכת"זית הובאה למקום@galdjerassi @AnnaPines_ pic.twitter.com/0kBNaHr1ti

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) April 15, 2023

Police detain six for blocking Ayalon Highway, setting a fire

Police say officers have detained five protesters for blocking the Ayalon Highway during tonight’s anti-overhaul rally, near the Yitzhak Navon Bridge.

Another man has been detained for setting a fire near the HaHalacha Interchange, police say.

Mounted officers and a water cannon are being used to disperse around 50 protesters who are currently blocking the highway.

Protest movement vows to continue rallies until overhaul ‘completely shelved’

Tens of thousands of Israeli protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system in Tel Aviv, Israel, April 15, 2023. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

Protesters say they will continue to hold rallies across the country until the government’s judicial overhaul plans are “completely shelved.”

“115,000 Israelis protesting in central Tel Aviv in addition to dozens of other venues across the state of Israel is a testament to our resilience and belief in democracy,” says Josh Drill, the international spokesperson for the Umbrella Movement of national protests.

“[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu’s attempt to put the national protest to sleep will not work. We will continue protesting in the hundreds of thousands until the judicial coup is completely shelved,” he adds.

Police clear all protesters from Ayalon Highway; 7 detained

Israeli police detain a protester during a demonstration against the government's judicial overhaul plans, in Tel Aviv on April 15, 2023. (JACK GUEZ / AFP)

Police say officers have cleared all the protesters who entered the Ayalon Highway tonight.

Mounted officers and water cannons were used, police say.

Seven protesters were detained during the “disruption of [public] order,” police add.

Likud MK Tally Gotliv: Leftists are ‘betraying’ Israel, forgot their values

Speaking at a pro-judicial overhaul demonstration in the coastal city of Netanya, Likud MK Tally Gotliv addresses the crowd by saying that left-wing Israelis who are against the government’s legal shakeup plans, are “betraying the state of Israel.”

“The left has forgotten the most basic values of the Jewish people in a Jewish and democratic state, they have forgotten this,” she says.

“They abandoned the security of the State of Israel, [they] will do everything they can to collapse the right-wing government and they have money,” Gotliv says.

“Look at how much money is at their demonstration,” she says, pointing to stage lighting at the anti-overhaul protest across the street. “Their goal is to weaken the right and collapse the right-wing government,” she adds.

Some 500 people are estimated at the pro-judicial overhaul rally in Netanya, with around 30,000 at the protest against the government plans. Police separated the sides, and there are no reports of clashes.

הזיה pic.twitter.com/lilHnOOfnb

— אטילה שומפלבי Attila Somfalvi (@attilus) April 15, 2023