Live updates (closed)
The Times of Israel liveblogged Saturday’s events as they unfolded.
‘Government is trampling democracy’: Thousands protest judicial overhaul in Jerusalem
A sign at the Jerusalem anti-overhaul protest shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as cartoon characters Beavis and Butt-Head, April 22, 2023. (DH/Times of Israel)
Thousands protest against the judicial overhaul at a demonstration in Paris Square in central Jerusalem, near the prime minister’s official residence, having marched there from their usual Saturday night gathering point outside the President’s Residence.
Organizer Tovah Sheleg quotes Yohanathan Geffen saying in one of his final interviews saying that the demonstrations must continue, and not to lose hope.
Former Likud minister Limor Livnat says the coalition is attempting regime change and to “castrate the high court.”
She quotes former Likud prime minister Menachem Begin championing the independence of the courts and their ultimate authority to protect individual rights.
Livnat says she remains a right-winger and will always be. “But the Likud is no longer my home.”
Dr. Tali Sela, whose brother was killed fighting in Lebanon in 1993 says, “The government is breaching its contract with its soldiers. My brother gave his life on the basis of that contract – that Israel is a democracy… The government is trampling democracy, trampling the values of its citizens.”
“For the sake of those who gave their lives for this country, I cannot be silent,” she says.
Man shot dead, another seriously hurt in separate violent incidents in Lod
Police say a man has been killed and another is seriously hurt in two separate shooting incidents in the central city of Lod this evening.
The two men were brought to the nearby Asaf Harofeh hospital independently, not by ambulance.
One of the men, a 19-year-old from the adjacent city of Ramle, died of his wounds at the medical center.
Police say they are investigating the incidents.
Anti-overhaul protesters enter Ayalon Highway, police disperse them
Demonstrators chant slogans beneath a large banner during a rally to protest the Israeli government's judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv, on April 22, 2023. (Jack Guez/AFP)
Police say some 20 protesters entered the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, near the HaShalom Junction, before officers disperse them after a short while.
In another incident on Yitzhak Sadeh, several protesters attempt to enter the Ayalon Highway, but are blocked by officers, police say.
Traffic is flowing on the highway, police add.
לאחר כמה דקות הגיעו שוטרים למקום ופינו את המפגינים לצד הדרך pic.twitter.com/76D8szuCVn
— אורי סלע Uri Sela (@uri_sela) April 22, 2023
110,000 estimated at main anti-judicial overhaul rally in Tel Aviv
Demonstrators lift flags and placards during a rally to protest the Israeli government's judicial overhaul bill in Tel Aviv, on April 22, 2023. (Jack Guez/AFP)
Channel 12 news reports that there are an estimated 110,000 people gathered at the main protest tonight, at Kaplan Street 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 16 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.
‘We’ll defend what you’ve fallen for’: Anti-overhaul protesters hold rally ahead of Memorial Day
Protesters unfurl a banner that reads: 'We’ll defend what you’ve fallen for,' in preparation for Memorial Day next week, in Tel Aviv, April 22, 2023. (Or Adar/Courtesy)
Tonight’s anti-overhaul protest is taking place days ahead of Memorial Day, set to begin Monday night.
Activists have unfurled a large banner at the main protest in Tel Aviv that reads: “We’ll defend what you’ve fallen for.”
Earlier, bereaved families lit memorial candles at the protest.
Bereaved families and Israelis stand next to memorial candles during a protest against the Israeli government’s planned judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv on April 22, 2023. (Erik Marmor/Flash90)
Defense Ministry building to be lit up with number of fallen soldiers for Memorial Day
The Defense Ministry building in Tel Aviv is lit up with the number of fallen troops ahead of Memorial Day, April 22, 2023. (Defense Ministry)
In a first, the Defense Ministry building at the military’s headquarters in Tel Aviv will be illuminated in memory of Israel’s fallen soldiers for Memorial Day on Tuesday.
The ministry says the word “Yizkor” (the mourner’s prayer) will be projected on the top of the building, with the number of fallen troops, 24,213, on the front.
“This is part of the Defense Ministry’s central commemoration project to light virtual memorial candles on the ‘Yizkor’ website,” a statement says.
The initiative to light up the building is approved by the ministry’s director general, Eyal Zamir, and is led by the Department of Families and Commemoration and the Logistics and Assets Department, the statement adds.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei: Israel’s demise is imminent
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, January 9, 2023. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei tells ambassadors of Islamic countries that Israel’s demise is imminent, during an Eid al-Fitr event.
“Today, we are witnessing the gradual decline of the usurping Zionist regime; its speed is even increasing day by day,” Khamenei says according to Iranian media.
“The strategy of the Islamic world should be focused on strengthening the combatant elements inside Palestine,” he says.
“The more this resistance increases, the weaker the Zionist regime will be, the more apparent its atrocities will become. The truly miserable situation that the Zionist regime is facing today is the result of the Palestinian youth’s resistance,” Khamenei adds.
Head of US National Council of Jewish Women at Tel Aviv rally: ‘If you love Israel, get off the couch and into the streets’
Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women. (Courtesy: NCJW)
Sheila Katz, the CEO of the US National Council of Jewish Women, speaks at tonight’s anti-overhaul rally in Tel Aviv, giving a first English speech at the weekly demonstration.
“Shalom, Kaplan! I’m honored to address you tonight as the first person you’ve invited to give a speech in English, allowing me to send a clear message to American Jews: This is our fight, too!” she says.
“If you love Israel, if you call yourself a Zionist: Get off the couch and into the streets. Speak up. We cannot let Israel’s democracy be dismantled on our watch!” Katz says
“In America, our Supreme Court took away the national right to abortion. We said it was coming, and people called us alarmists. Like you, we were told to compromise, but there can be no compromise on fundamental rights! This is not about so-called judicial reform, it’s about democracy,” she continues.
“In order for your sacred Courts to protect the rights of all people, they must remain independent from politics,” Katz says.
“There are hundreds of thousands of you out here tonight. But know there are millions more standing with you in America and around the world. We see you out here every week fighting for this country we love. Every week our hearts are with you. Every week you fill us with pride. Every week you inspire us.”
“You, the people of Israel, are our ‘or la’goyim’ [light unto the nations], showing the world what it means to fight for freedom. We are in this together. And with one voice we say: De-mo-kra-tia! [democracy],” she adds.
WATCH: Thousands gather in Tel Aviv for weekly anti-government protest
Thousands of people are gathering on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv for a weekly protest against the government’s judicial overhaul plans.
A livestream from the rally is available below.
Ahead of Memorial Day, bereaved families light candles at anti-overhaul protest
Members of bereaved families have set up a makeshift memorial at the main anti-overhaul protest in Tel Aviv this evening.
On Tuesday, Israel will mark Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror.
Week 16: tens of thousands of Israelis protest against the proposed judicial overhaul. This week Israel marks the Memorial Day, followed by its 75th Independence day. Many bereaved families participate in the demonstrations “ our loved ones died for democracy “
Tel Aviv: pic.twitter.com/1iTaQeKGpf— Yonat Friling (Frühling) (@FrilingYonat) April 22, 2023
Sudan army says it will help foreigners leave amid fighting
In this photo provided by Maheen S , smoke fills the sky in Khartoum, Sudan, near Doha International Hospital on April 21, 2023. (Maheen S via AP)
KHARTOUM, Sudan — The Sudanese army says it is coordinating efforts to evacuate foreign citizens and diplomats from Sudan on military aircraft, as the bloody fighting that has engulfed the vast African nation entered its second week.
Army chief Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan says he will facilitate the evacuation of American, British, Chinese, and French citizens and diplomats from Sudan after speaking with the leaders of several countries that had requested help.
The prospect has vexed officials as most major airports have become battlegrounds and movement out of the capital, Khartoum, has proven intensely dangerous.
Burhan “agreed to provide the necessary assistance to secure such evacuations for various countries,” Sudan’s military says.
Questions have swirled over how the mass rescues of foreign citizens would unfold, with Sudan’s main international airport closed and millions of people sheltering indoors. As battles between the Sudanese army led by Burhan and a rival powerful paramilitary group rage in and around Khartoum, including in residential areas, foreign countries have struggled to repatriate their citizens — many trapped in their homes as food supplies dwindle.
The White House will not confirm the Sudanese military’s announcement.
“We have made very clear to both sides that they are responsible for ensuring the protection of civilians and noncombatants,” the National Security Council says.
On Friday, the US said it had no plans for a government-coordinated evacuation of the estimated 16,000 American citizens trapped in Sudan.
Some 2,000 gathered at Karkur Junction for weekly anti-overhaul rally
Some 2,000 protesters are gathered at the Karkur Junction in northern Israel for a weekly demonstration against the government’s judicial overhaul plan, the Ynet news site reports.
The report says around 300 people held a march from Karkur to the nearby junction.
כאלפיים מפגינים בצומת כרכור pic.twitter.com/TwKw2t1KnF
— ynet עדכוני (@ynetalerts) April 22, 2023
Crowds gather for 16th week of protests against judicial overhaul
Anti-overhaul protesters gather at the Gome Junction in northern Israel, April 22, 2023. (Amir Shoshani/Courtesy)
Crowds are beginning to gather at around 150 locations across the country in the 16th 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 around 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 16 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.
רחובות pic.twitter.com/1dV0hAuHr6
— אבנר הופשטיין (@AvnerHofstein) April 22, 2023
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