TEL AVIV: Thousands of people took to the streets in Israel again to protest a controversial proposed judicial reform, even though the far-right religious government has postponed the plan for the time being.
The main rally of the nationwide protests took place again in Tel Aviv for the 16th consecutive Saturday.
"By continuing forward with the judicial coup, the government is driving a deeper rift within Israeli society, damaging the economy and hurting Israel's security," the organizers of the rallies said in a statement.
Protests were held in some 100 locations across the country, according to the statement.
Israel has been roiled by mass protests for more than three months since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government announced controversial reform plans.
With the judicial reforms, critics say the government is seeking to curtail the influence of the country's Supreme Court and expand the government's power. Among other things, the government would be granted more power in the appointment of judges and parliament would be able to overturn Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority.
Following widespread opposition from civil society as well as from within the government and the army, Netanyahu postponed the bill fora few weeks at the end of March to make "room for dialogue."
The opposition, however, is sceptical that the government will reach a compromise.
So far, the talks have seen little progress.
Critics see the separation of powers in danger and warn of a state crisis if the reforms are implemented. Some fear that the government might try to fast-track the reform through parliament when it is due to reconvene for its summer session on April 30.
The celebrations of Israel's 75th anniversary next week are also expected to be overshadowed by further protests. Opponents of the reform plans announced the "largest Independence Day demonstration in Israeli history" at the launch of celebrations on Tuesday evening.
The Israeli military announced that a Euro fighter of the German Air Force will take partin a fly-past to mark Israeli Independence Day next week for the first time. — dpa
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