Pro and anti-overhaul protesters rally outside home of ex-Supreme Court chief Barak
Proposal’s backers hold Moroccan-style party in response to his claims he couldn’t find Mizrahi candidate to sit on bench; government’s opponents rally in support of retired judge
Hundreds of demonstrators protesting for and against the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary rallied outside the home of former Supreme Court chief justice Aharon Barak in Tel Aviv on Thursday night, capping off mass nationwide rallies over the course of the day.
Barak is seen by many as the figure most responsible for Israel’s judicial changes since 2005 — many of which the government wants to overturn — and he has emerged as a polarizing figure in the ongoing debate. He is a liberal icon against which many right-wing, pro-reform activists rally, despite no longer holding an official position.
Two weeks ago, Barak’s residential neighborhood was the site of pro-overhaul protests during which demonstrators hurled insults at the 86-year-old Holocaust survivor and wished him ill over his vocal opposition to the planned judicial revamp. A day after those protests, anti-overhaul demonstrators showed up outside Barak’s home to show support, chanting “thank you” to the justice who emerged from his house to greet them.
On Thursday, supporters of the government’s judicial proposals set up a “hafla,” a Morrocan-style celebration, outside Barak’s home in response to past comments about “not being able to find” a suitable Moroccan or Mizrahi candidate to serve on the High Court of Justice.
“If Barak can’t find a Moroccan judge, we will bring Morocco to him,” the right-wing Im Tirtzu organization, which organized the event, said in a statement.
Demonstrators handed out mufleta — a traditional pancake-like treat usually eaten at a Mimouna, a North African Jewish holiday marking the end of Passover — to passersby.
On the other side of the street, anti-government protesters, mainly from the Brothers in Arms reservist protest group, came to show support for Barak.
The group also raised a makeshift army watchtower, labeled “Haredim for the future of the IDF,” in reference to the government’s plans to re-legislate the draft exemption laws previously struck down by the High Court of Justice, most recently in 2017. The legislation would exempt all ultra-Orthodox males from military and national service and is being pushed by ultra-Orthodox allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hard-right coalition.
עם בקבוקי ערק ותרבושים: "חפלה" מול ביתו של אהרון ברק, מולם מפגינים מאות ממתנגדי המהפכה המשפטית
צילום: יוסי זליגר, TPS pic.twitter.com/6o7nQzeItQ
— החדשות – N12 (@N12News) May 4, 2023
Up until last month, this coalition has moved at high speed with legislation that will bring most judicial appointments under government control and curb the oversight powers of the High Court of Justice.
Critics say the overhaul will sap the High Court of Justice of its power to act as a check and balance against parliament, dangerously eroding Israel’s democratic character. Supporters say the legislation is needed to rein in what they see as an over-intrusive court system.
Barak has been a vocal opponent of the far-reaching proposals and has backed the mass demonstrations against them, declaring in January that he was willing to go before a firing squad to stop the measures. Last month, Barak said he believes the government and opposition must come to some sort of broad agreement on the judicial overhaul.
President Isaac Herzog’s office said on Thursday that the first round of negotiations over the judicial overhaul has been completed, following a meeting between representatives of the coalition, and Yesh Atid and National Unity parties.
Demonstrations have proceeded amid a general atmosphere of distrust surrounding the ongoing compromise talks, launched late last month after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paused his hardline government’s legislative push to remake the judiciary.
On Thursday, anti-overhaul protesters carried out acts of civil disobedience, including blocking major highways, as part of the latest “Disruption Day” against the government’s judicial plans and in support of equality over a range of societal issues.
This week, Hebrew media reported that Barak had recently met with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a longtime Netanyahu confidant, to discuss the government’s plans.
Dermer is representing Netanyahu at the compromise talks with the opposition.
Analysts and commentators believe the coalition will not advance any of the legislation until the passage of the state budget, which the ruling bloc must do by May 29 or face automatic elections.
