‘You must take action’: Group of anti-overhaul protesters square off with Herzog

President Isaac Herzog squared off with dozens of protesters opposed to the government’s judicial overhaul in the northern town of Zichron Yaakov on Wednesday.

The demonstrators demanded Herzog take action to “protect the judicial system,” while he asked them to get behind efforts to reach a compromise between the government and the opposition.

The sustained, nationwide protest movement has regularly targeted government ministers, but has rarely directed fire at the president, who is meant to be an apolitical figure. Herzog has pushed the coalition and opposition to compromise on the government’s divisive legislative package, and hosted unsuccessful negotiations at his official residence. No negotiations are currently taking place.

The demonstrators gathered in Zichron Yaakov as Herzog visited a military base used by the Shayetet 13 naval commando unit.

Footage showed the demonstrators beating drums, blowing whistles, waving Israeli flags and chanting “democracy” as Herzog left the event, flanked by police and security personnel.

Herzog crossed a parking lot to speak with the protesters before he left.

“I hold dialogue with everyone who is ready to hold dialogue to guarantee that our democracy remains strong and stable,” Herzog told the demonstrators.

“There are some of you that did not give us a chance and it’s a shame. There was pressure from some leading figures and others,” Herzog said, apparently referring to protest leaders’ opposition to the judicial negotiations.

הנשיא הרצוג יצא לשוחח עם מפגינים מחוץ לאירוע שבו היה בזכרון יעקב@yanircozin pic.twitter.com/hB7fzgba9v

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) August 9, 2023

“I’m insisting that everyone needs to come to the President’s Residence to hold talks, and if not at the President’s Residence, then anywhere else,” Herzog told the protesters.

One of the demonstrators asked Herzog, “How can you give a hand to a government that is so corrupt? If there’s no judicial system here, there will be anarchy.”

“You must help protect the impartial judicial system,” the protester said.

“You need to take action today,” another demonstrator said.

Herzog also alluded to the schisms in Israeli society during the visit to the military base.

“During these days that Israeli society is dealing with great challenges, to see the fire in the eyes, these brave soldiers that I met today, the IDF must remain united and continue to allow them to deal with the security of the State of Israel,” Herzog said.

The societal battle over the fate of the judiciary has seeped into the military’s ranks, with thousands of reservists, including some in key positions, refusing to report for duty in protest. Some far-right lawmakers in the coalition have also attacked the military, accusing the top commander of the West Bank of caring more for Palestinians than Israelis.

The IDF acknowledged on Tuesday that the refusals have caused a degree of harm to the army’s readiness, warning that divisions within the ranks due to the ongoing political crisis could take significant time to heal.

The protests are opposed to the government’s highly contentious judicial overhaul program, which would remove many of the High Court of Justice’s checks and balances over the government. The first law of the overhaul was passed in July, barring the court from striking down cabinet or ministerial decisions based on the doctrine of reasonableness.

Demonstrators this week rallied at a community in northern Israel where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was vacationing with his wife, Sara.