Protesters light bonfires, block motorways and clash with police in Israel
Tens of thousands of protesters brought parts of Israel to a standstill on Sunday in fury at an alleged power grab by the hard right government.
Demonstrators lit large bonfires and blocked a major motorway in Tel Aviv, while crowds in Tel Aviv scuffled with police who blasted them with water cannons.
The country has witnessed one of its largest-ever waves of protests over plans for ministers to take over the appointment of judges and limit the power of courts to block laws.
Critics say the reforms are a brazen attempt to scupper corruption charges against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claims left-wing judges are interfering with politics.
The protests were supercharged by his decision to sack his own defence minister for opposing the plans.
They now include hundreds of Israeli Defence Force activists who have gone on strike despite growing signs of a ‘Third Intifada’ (uprising) of Palestinians which could see widespread violence in the West Bank.
The situation provoked a rare intervention by a British prime minister on Friday when Rishi Sunak warned Mr Netanyahu of ‘international concern’ over the safety of ‘democratic values’ in Israel and ‘growing tensions’ with Palestinians.
Top figures in Israel’s military and spy forces have since been reported as saying the unrest could weaken their capacity to respond to threats.
The IDF’s chief of staff told The New York Times the army is on the verge of having to cut back on operations due to reservists failing to report for duty.
The director of Shin Bet, the internal security service, warned Mr Netanyahu that Israel is heading to a ‘very dangerous place’.
Their comments and Mr Netanyahu’s sacking of Yoav Gallant came as a triple blow to his image as a leader who is tough on defence.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid tweeted that the prime minister had become ‘a threat to the security of the state of Israel’.
Ousted in 2021 after 11 years in power, Mr Netanyahu rode back into power in December on a coalition which includes far-right, ultrareligious and ultranationalist parties.
Critics say his legal reforms are a brazen ploy to scupper corruption charges against him.
He is currently on trial accused of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes linked to a number of scandals involving wealthy associates.
Rishi Sunak’s warnings have been echoed by US President Joe Biden, whose officials urged Israel to protect its democratic ‘checks and balances’.
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