Unrest continues in Israel, protests in Tel Aviv

By Nathan Morley

Thousands of Israelis resumed demonstrations in Tel Aviv Saturday night, calling for a total cancellation of the government's judicial overhaul plan.

As unrest continues in Israel, thousands of citizens took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest the government's plan to cull Supreme Court powers.

Local media reported that 160,000 people turned out in Tel Aviv and other locations.

Just last week, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a controversial judicial reform bill that has provoked months of protests and a general strike. Netanyahu said the delay, until the next parliament session, would enable dialogue and prevent a civil war.

He also warned that an extremist minority was tearing Israel apart.

It has been calm since the ruling coalition and those opposing the judicial reforms opened negotiations on Thursday to find a settlement. Yair Lapid, head of the opposition, said ‘The danger has not yet passed’.

Netanyahu - who is facing corruption charges – has insisted the overhaul is needed to curb what he describes as an ‘overly activist’ Supreme Court.

For the last three months, tens of thousands of citizens have repeatedly taken to the streets to protest the government's plan to cull Supreme Court powers.