TEL AVIV: Israelis on Tuesday marched on highways and blocked army headquarters in Tel Aviv in the run-up to a parliament vote on the government's judicial reform agenda protesters say would "dismantle democracy".
The proposals have divided the nation and triggered one of the biggest protest movements in Israel's history since being unveiled in January by the hard-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Weekly rallies have drawn tens of thousands of protesters aiming to prevent what they believe could open the way to more authoritarian government.
Crowds gathered early on Tuesday in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, Israel's commercial hub, after organisers had called for a "national day of resistance" ahead of a planned vote by lawmakers on a key clause later this month.
Organisers urged supporters to rally at train stations, city squares, highways and roundabouts across Israel.
Thousands of demonstrators holding Israeli flags and chanting "democracy, democracy" marched on highways and bridges, and blocked several roads as well as an entrance to the military's headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Opponents of the government's reforms also entered the stock exchange building in the city and staged a rally there.
Police said they had arrested at least 19 protesters for violating public order.
Rallies were also held in Jerusalem, Haifa Rehovot and other cities.
The government temporarily paused the divisive legal overhaul in March in the wake of a general strike.
But in recent weeks it launched a new political offensive to pass the package in parliament.
Parliament is due to vote on a measure to limit the "reasonability" clause, through which the judiciary can strike down government decisions.
Ahead of Tuesday's protests, organisers said in a statement it was the "citizens who can stop the train of dictatorship".
Josh Drill, a spokesman for the protest movement, said pressure on the government would continue through "non-violent acts of civil disobedience".
"We will continue to protest in the streets until the complete cancellation of the judicial overhaul," he said.
Lawmakers adopted the "reasonability" bill in a first reading last week.
If approved in second and third readings, it will become the first major component of the reform package to become law.
Other proposed measures include giving politicians a greater say in the appointment of judges. — AFP
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