More than 140,000 people are reported to have demonstrated in Tel Aviv against the government’s planned judicial reform, with tens of thousands more in other cities. According to media reports, some demonstrators again carried flags of the Palestinian Authority (PA) or the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
During the demonstration, the Ayalon Expressway was again blocked. But this time the Israeli police reacted quickly and used water cannons, among other means, to clear the road.
רק לי נדמה שמאז שעמי אשד התפטר בליווי נאום מטופש במדים והערכות בהתאם ,ניתן לסכם:
״מה שלא עבד בכח (הכלת האנרכיסטים 🤣), יעבוד ביותר כח״
פעם הבאה הפעלת מכת״זית עם בואש ואף אחד לא יעז לרדת לכביש. pic.twitter.com/jNYIMUaDwT— ישראלה מימון (@The72056Woman) July 9, 2023
A motorcyclist trying to drive through the demonstration collided with a protester, injuring him.
תיעוד: רוכב אופנוע פוגע במפגין באיילון@yonatanraveh11 pic.twitter.com/an93tVBWhd
— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) July 8, 2023
The protest leaders said they would step up opposition to the government if the Knesset passes Monday’s first-reading of a bill that would remove the courts’ ability to rule on the “reasonableness” of government decisions. A “national day of resistance” is planned for Tuesday, when protest marches and demonstrations are to take place across the country, including a large-scale demonstration at Ben Gurion Airport.
Nightly protests in front of the Defense Minister’s house
Crazy images: thousands of Israelis are protesting right now in the middle of the night outside Defence Minister Gallant’s home against the judicial overhaul.
Netanyahu fired him after he talked against the overhaul and reversed the decision. Now the overhaul is back on track pic.twitter.com/9DQJwCMqdb— נריה קראוס Neria Kraus (@NeriaKraus) July 8, 2023
The Brothers in Arms protest movement, representing reservists and military veterans, demonstrated last night outside Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s home.
Change of leadership at the police in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv Deputy District Chief David Filo yesterday assumed command of police operations for the first time. This comes after previous district chief Ami Eshed resigned last week. Eshed’s resignation announcement sparked spontaneous protests.
The police on Saturday denied a report by the KAN TV channel that they wanted to set up detention centers near various demonstration sites to hold those violating the law.
The change at the top of the Tel Aviv police force marks an important shift in how the demonstrations are being handled. David Filo, previously deputy chief of police for the Tel Aviv district, will now command the police force and be responsible for handling the protests.
