From the Liveblog of
Monday, February 13, 2023
Over 60,000 rally in Jerusalem against judicial overhaul, with thousands more en route
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At least 60,000 protesters are demonstrating against the contentious judicial overhaul plan outside the Knesset in Jerusalem.
The crowds have stretched from the Knesset, past the Supreme Court and all along Yoel Zusman Street.
Many of the main traffic routes into Jerusalem are snarled up as convoys of vehicles carrying thousands more protesters continue to make their way to the capital, Channel 12 reports.
Thousands more have rallied in other cities and towns around the country.
The Jerusalem crowd has heard addresses from Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, National Unity head Benny Gantz and Labor leader Merav Michaeli.
“We will not stay quiet,” Lapid says. “We will not stay quiet as they destroy everything that is precious and sacred to us.”
The government is advancing legislation that would overhaul the legal system, significantly curbing the High Court of Justice’s power to exercise judicial review, allowing lawmakers to overrule court rulings with a bare majority and allowing government ministers to appoint their own legal advisers.
Earlier, the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved for its first reading in the Knesset plenum the first part of the plan, which would give the government full control over the Judicial Selection Committee.
The Times of Israel Community.