Israelis rally against judicial reform bill ahead of vote

AFP :
Israelis protested on Monday against the government’s judicial reform bill which they say threatens democracy, as lawmakers ready for a key vote on the controversial overhaul.
Demonstrators from across Israel descended on Jerusalem to rally near parliament ahead of the first reading of legislation to change the way judges are picked.
“The state is in danger,” said Dvir Bar, a 45-year-old demonstrator from Holon in central Israel.
“It’s an attempted coup, to transform Israel into a dictatorship,” he said in Jerusalem, as hundreds gathered hours ahead of the parliamentary session.
As demonstrators travelled to Jerusalem, some 4,000 parents, students and teachers also rallied in northern Tel Aviv, according to an AFP correspondent.
The sweeping judicial reform programme is a cornerstone of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, an alliance with ultra-Orthodox and extreme-right parties which took office in late December.
The premier views the overhaul as key to restoring the balance between the branches of government, as he believes judges have too much power over elected officials.  
But opponents argue the government is making a power grab and tens of thousands of protesters have gathered in Tel Aviv for seven consecutive weeks to protest the legislation.
In Jerusalem, protester Kovi Skier took aim at the government’s plan to allow parliament to overrule any Supreme Court decision with a simple majority.
“If there’s no judicial review, the government can make whatever policies it wants without any limitations,” said the 33-year-old from the central city of Givat Shmuel.
“It could make policies against women, policies against Arabs, policies against the religious, it doesn’t make a difference who. Everyone will be affected,” he added, carrying his daughter who was clutching an Israeli flag.
Lawmakers are set to hold their first vote later Monday on measures to change the composition of the committee to select judges.
A bill to prevent judges from ruling against the so-called Basic Laws, Israel’s quasi-constitution, is also on the parliamentary agenda.