Thousands at Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street: ‘Believe it will make a difference’; rally near Knesset

Thousands of protesters stream toward Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street, a main focus of the rallies that saw clashes between police and demonstrators earlier today.

Elana Resnick, who moved to Israel from Los Angeles, says she believes the protests are sending a message to those who can make a difference.

“This is the one hope for democracy in the Middle East, and it’s crumbling. I think it’s important to share our views and try our hardest to protect what we believe in,” she says.

Janessa Goldberg, who moved to Israel from Chicago 12 years ago tomorrow, says they have been coming to the protests against the judicial overhaul on a regular basis.

“Because of the vote yesterday things are more imminent,” she says, referring to the Knesset’s first reading of a bill to curtail judicial oversight.

“I believe it will make a difference. In March, [the demonstrations] slowed [the overhaul] down, and it is gaining a lot of international awareness,” Goldberg says.

In Jerusalem, several thousand people have marched from the Supreme Court to the Knesset. Army Radio puts the number of participants at 5,000.

Protesters have also gathered at Ra’anana junction, Tzemach junction, in Beersheba, among other locations.