From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Israeli anti-overhaul protesters gather outside US Capitol ahead of Herzog speech
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
WASHINGTON — Some 200 Israeli expats gather outside the Capitol building in Washington to protest the judicial overhaul being advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government ahead of President Isaac Herzog’s speech to a joint session of Congress set to begin in an hour.
Another two buses of protesters from New York and New Jersey are slated to arrive shortly. As they do in Tel Aviv protest hub Kaplan Square, protesters wave Israeli flags chant “De-mo-cra-cy” and other Hebrew slogans.
However, protest leader Shany Granot tells demonstrators not to chant “shame” since she doesn’t want them to be seen as criticizing “Biden or Herzog who have been doing such a great job for Israeli democracy.”
Addressing the protesters, UnXeptable leader Offir Gutelzon thanks “President Biden for not only securing Israel’s security but also its democracy.”
Herzog and his wife, Michal, arrive at the US Capitol ahead of his address to meet with congressional leaders from both parties.
The Times of Israel Community.