In Israel, Large Protests Against Proposed Judiciary Changes

（单词翻译）

In Israel, Large Protests Against Proposed Judiciary Changes

Tens of thousands of Israelis protested outside parliament Monday to show their opposition¹ to government plans to reshape the country's judiciary.

Some demonstrators carried flags and blew horns. Others shouted "democracy" and "no to dictatorship."

The large protest took place outside the Knesset, Israel's parliament building in Jerusalem. Other large demonstrations² were held in other cities.

The administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed changes to the country's Supreme³ Court. Protests over the plans have been going on for weeks. The demonstrations have been supported by some influential⁴ business leaders and former military officials.

The government plans would give the prime minister greater control over judicial⁵ appointments. Experts say the process would weaken the Supreme Court's ability to rule against government leaders.

The Knesset's Constitutional Committee voted Monday to move the first official version of the plan forward. Several lawmakers were thrown out of the building after trying to delay the legislative⁶ process, Reuters news agency reported.

"They hear our cry. They hear the strong voice of truth," opposition leader Yair Lapid said to the crowd outside of parliament. "They hear it and they're afraid."

Netanyahu and his supporters say the proposed changes are needed to limit a judiciary that has become too powerful. But his critics say the changes would ruin Israeli democracy. Critics have also suggested that Netanyahu has a conflict of interest. He currently is on trial for a series of corruption⁷ charges.

Organizers claimed at least 100,000 people protested at the Knesset. Members of opposition parties gave speeches to the crowd which included Arabs, women and LGBTQ activists⁸.

Thousands of people arrived in Jerusalem by train. Hundreds of others gathered for a protest at Jerusalem's Western Wall – Judaism's holiest place – before marching toward the Knesset.

Although Netanyahu and his allies have a majority alliance, it is not clear when the full parliament will begin debating the legislation.

Netanyahu issued a video accusing his political opponents of starting unrest and purposefully pushing the country "into anarchy⁹."

But Netanyahu noted¹⁰ there is still a way to reach a compromise. "Most citizens of Israel don't want anarchy. They want a substantive¹¹ dialogue and in the end they want unity¹²."

At a joint¹³ press conference at the Knesset, former defense¹⁴ minister Benny Gantz said opposition party leaders remained united "against the targeted assassination¹⁵ of democracy."

Netanyahu and his allies took office in December after the country's fifth election in four years. That election centered on Netanyahu's fitness for office at a time when he was facing serious criminal charges.

Netanyahu has criticized the country's police, prosecutors¹⁷ and judges and said he is the victim of efforts to push him out of office. His critics say the proposed legal changes will destroy Israel's democratic system of checks and balances.

Words in This Story

horn –n. a noise-making device

anarchy –n. a state in which people are not controlled by laws or rules

substantive – adj. important or serious

dialogue – n. a formal discussion between countries or groups of people

assassination – n. the killing¹⁸ of someone important or famous

prosecutor¹⁶ – n. a lawyer who prosecutes¹⁹ people

checks and balances – n. rules meant to prevent one person or group from having too much power within an organization