2023 Israeli judicial reform protests

Demonstration on Begin Road in Tel Aviv, 28 January 2023

The first protest took place on 7 January in Tel Aviv's Habima Square. It was initially organized by Omdim Beyachad, a socialist Arab-Jewish organization,[11] as a protest against the formation of the Thirty-seventh government of Israel.[12] Following Yariv Levin's announcement on 4 January that he planned to reform Israel's judiciary, other organizations, which included Crime Minister, joined the protest, leading a concurrent march from Habima.[12] Omdim Beyachad's protest included Ayman Odeh as a guest speaker.[12][13] The combined protests included approximately 20,000 people.[14] In the meantime, a smaller protest took place in Haifa that was attended by 200 people.[15] On 14 January, a second protest was organized at Habima, which was attended by approximately 80,000 protesters, and was joined by smaller rallies in Haifa and Jerusalem that were attended by several thousands.[16]

From 14 January to 11 February, protests against the reform were held on a weekly basis in Kaplan Street, alongside smaller protests in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba,[17] and other cities like Ness Ziona and Herzliya.[18] The Kaplan protests were regularly attended by numbers ranging from 60,000 to 150,000 people.[19][20] Protests in other cities regularly attracted smaller numbers.[21]

On 8 February, the Chairman of the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Simcha Rothman announced it would vote on referring several reforms to the Knesset Plenum on 13 February, including a law giving the coalition a majority on the judicial appointments committee.[22] The previous day, several protest leaders, including former Chief of the General Staff Moshe Ya'alon and the Movement for Quality Government in Israel, announced their intention to organize a general strike and a protest outside the Knesset building on the same date, which was believed to be the vote's date before the announcement was made.[23]

More than 100,000 people gathered for protests in Jerusalem on 13 February,[24][25] while individuals in several industries, including doctors and tech workers, went on strike.[26] That day, the Constitution committee voted 9–7 in favor of the reforms.[27]

Two more weekly protests were held on Saturdays in various cities around Israel, with a central protest in Kaplan. Both numbered over 100,000.[28][29] The second protest was preceded by a performance of 150 members of a women's group, wearing red-and-white outfits resembling those worn by handmaids in the television series The Handmaid's Tale. The group appeared in protest against some of the proposed legal changes, which they believe will hurt women.[30] These protests were joined by another protest on 20 February, where over 100,000 protesters gathered outside the Knesset in Jerusalem to protest against an initial plenum vote on several reform-related bills.[31]

Protesters marching along Begin boulevard, Tel Aviv, 1 March 2023

1 March was designated by protest organizers as a 'national day of disruption'.[32] Protesters tried to block Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, but police used stun grenades, mounted police, and water cannons against the demonstrators, and arrested several people. Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir both said that all protesters blocking the roads are anarchists who should be arrested.[33] Later that evening, the Prime Minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu, was spotted at a hair salon in Tel Aviv. Protesters stood outside the salon for three hours while mounted police was guarding the entrance, until Netanyahu was escorted out by police.[34]

Additional protests took place on 4 and 8 March, with Channel 12 estimating that over 160,000 people attended the former protests,[35] while Haaretz estimated that over 25,000 attended the latter.[36]

On 9 March, the protest movement led what was referred to as a 'national day of resistance'. Protesters blocked roads and maritime routes, including one of the country's main highways, Ayalon, which connects all of the major traffic routes leading to Tel Aviv. Convoys of cars packed the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway and streamed toward Ben Gurion Airport's main terminal. The protest at the airport came hours before Netanyahu flew to Rome to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.[37][38][39]

According to Globes, between 150,000-240,000 people protested in Tel Aviv against the reform on 11 March,[40] alongside smaller protests in other cities.[41] Another weekly protest took place on 18 March, which was attended by over 260,000 people.[42] Yet another protest took place on 16 March, while smaller demonstrations took place on 21[43][44] and 22 March.[44] On 23 March, protest leaders declared a 'national day of paralysis', a series of smaller protests and demonstrations in various Israeli cities.[45]

Another protest took place on 25 March in Tel Aviv, with over 195,000 participants according to Channel 12. Smaller protests took place in other cities such as Haifa, Beersheba and Beit Shemesh.[46] On the same day, Israel's defense minister Yoav Gallant urged a pause in the judicial reform, stating that the growing social rift is a "clear, immediate and tangible threat to Israel's security." Gallant called for the halt before lawmakers were due to vote the following week on a central part of the government's proposals.[47] The next day, Netanyahu announced his intention to fire Gallant.[48]

Protesters block Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, 26 March 2023

On 26 March, in response to the firing of Defense Minister Gallant, hundreds of thousands of protesters blocked roads across Israel, in over 150 locations.[49][50]

Asaf Zamir, Israel's Consul General in New York, resigned from his post following Gallant's dismissal in order to "stand up for what is right and fight for the democratic values I believe in". Israeli universities (with the exception of Ariel University, located in the West Bank) announced an indefinite strike, including cessation of all classes and research in protest at the government's actions. 23 local council leaders announced their intention to start a hunger strike in front of the Prime Minister's office, demanding a halt to the judicial reform.[49]

Protesters escalated and marched towards Netanyahu's residence. There were reports of security barriers being broken down, but these reports were denied by police.[51][52]

On 27 March, Israel's President Isaac Herzog called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately halt the legislative process. He said, "for the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of responsibility, I am calling on you to stop the legislation immediately. I turn to all the party leaders in the Knesset, coalition, and opposition as one, put the citizens of the nation above all else, and behave responsibly and bravely without further delay."[53]

Histadrut labor federation chair Arnon Bar-David announced a general nationwide strike, followed by labor unions and major corporations announcing their participation in the strike. Protest leaders from the high-tech industry announced a complete shutdown of the country's tech industry. The leader of the Israel Airports trade union directed airport workers to shut down Ben Gurion Airport. Israel's doctors' union announced an immediate freeze of the health care system. This strike represented the "first time in the history of the State of Israel [that] the business sector, together with the Histadrut and local government, are joining forces to save the country from terrible chaos," said Dubi Amitai, the chair of the Presidium of Israeli Business Organizations.[54] Israel's embassies in the United States and the United Kingdom shut down for the day, joining a worldwide strike of diplomats over the proposed changes to the judicial system.[55]

Mass protests continued throughout Israel later that day, with the largest taking place in front of the Knesset. Over one hundred thousand people participated in the protest, demanding a complete stop to the legislation.[56]

In response to increasing pressure, Netanyahu agreed to delay the judicial legislation for a month.[57][58] However, protesters stated that they would continue demonstrating until the legislation was shelved entirely.[59] In an agreement with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who threatened to resign if the legislation were to be halted, Netanyahu promised to promote the foundation of a National Guard, which was to be headed by Ben-Gvir.[60]

Protesters in Ra'anana signing a copy of the Israeli Declaration of Independence, 22 April 2023

Protesters in Tel Aviv, 8 April 2023

From 1 April to 13 May, protests took place in several cities across the country on a weekly basis. The protests in Kaplan averaged between 100,000[61][62] and 200,000[63][64][65] people (except for 13 May, when the main protest was cancelled by the organizers). A smaller protest took place on 30 March,[66] with additional demonstrations on 10 and 12 April.[67][68] On 20 April, delegates to the World Zionist Congress from ten countries took part in a march from the congress venue in Jerusalem to Israel's Supreme Court in opposition to the reforms,[69][70] while a protest took place at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly on 23 April.

An additional day of protests took place on 4 May, dubbed a 'national equality day' by the protest organizers. It featured nationwide demonstrations for equal treatment, especially in regard to exemption from military service given to the ultra-orthodox. Another target was the rabbinate’s control over all issues relating to marriage among Jews in Israel. A protest outside Tel Aviv’s rabbinical court included a group civil wedding for both straight and gay couples, all dressed in pink and standing under a pink chuppah. Israeli law does not permit civil marriage.[71][72][73]

On 6 May, around 110,000 people, according to Israel's Channel 12, participated in an anti-reform demonstration.[74]

The 13 May protests were scaled down due to the risk presented by rockets fired from the Gaza Strip, bringing out tens of thousands of protesters rather than the usual hundreds of thousands. The main protest in Tel Aviv was cancelled by the organizers, but thousands attended a protest rally there, nevertheless. Haifa, too, saw thousands of anti-reform protesters.[75]

On 27 March, as reports surfaced that Netanyahu may delay the judicial legislation, tens of thousands of supporters of the reform arrived outside the Supreme Court, calling on the government not to fold to pressure and to keep going as planned.[76]

On 3 April, protests in support of the reform took place outside President Herzog's residence. Protesters held signs in Hebrew stating "Benjamin Netanyahu, the people of Israel are with you."[77]

On 15 April, amidst anti-reform demonstrations, the right-wing Im Tirtzu organization held counter-protests in support of the changes in 12 locations across the country.[78] According to The Times of Israel, "these did not appear to draw large crowds",[78] while according to Channel 14 the counter-protests attracted thousands of supporters,[79] and according to Arutz Sheva they attracted tens of thousands.[80]

On 19 April, around 300 right-wing protesters gathered outside the home of former Israeli Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, in support of the proposed judicial changes.[81] In response to the these protests, thousands gathered there the next day in a show of support for him and in opposition to the government's plan to weaken the judiciary. Barak went out to meet the crowd, who chanted "thank you" to the 86-year-old retired judge.[82]

On 22 April, thousands of counter-protesters demonstrated in support of the judicial reform, including at the Shilot intersection near the entrance to the city of Modi'in, at the Karion intersection in Kiryat Bialik, and at the Kfar Ganim mall in Petah Tikva, as well as in other cities like Rosh HaAyin, Ashkelon, and Hadera. In Rosh HaAyin, the protesters dressed up as Yemenite slaves and performed an act with working tools.[83]

On 27 April, around 200,000 supporters (according to The Jerusalem Post, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, and police estimates quoted by The Times of Israel) of the government's legal reform gathered outside the Knesset in Jerusalem. The speakers included Justice Minister Yariv Levin, Constitution, Law and Justice Committee chair MK Simcha Rothman, Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.[84][85][86][87]