Israelis furious at Netanyahu’s new power to overrule courts

MORE than 10,000 people have protested against Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government in Tel Aviv, days after it unveiled plans to allow parliament to overrule the supreme court.

The rally, organised by opposition Left-wing and Arab members of the Israeli parliament, was the first major protest against Mr Netanyahu’s hardline Right-wing and religiously conservative government since it was sworn in at the end of December.

Yariv Levin, the new justice minister, announced sweeping reforms to the judicial system on Wednesday, including a clause that would allow parliament to override supreme court decisions on legislation.

Mr Netanyahu made deals with his coalition partners that vow to pursue a policy of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and carry out social reforms that have worried members and supporters of the LGBT community.

Protesters on Saturday carried LGBT and Palestinian flags, as well as placards that warned of the end of democracy and the criminality of Netanyahu’s government.

Mr Levin says his new judicial path, that limits the authority of the supreme court and puts power back into parliament, will strengthen democracy. But his opponents say it will undermine all of the checks and balances in place to ensure democracy.

It comes after tensions soared in Jerusalem over a controversial visit by Itamar Ben-gvir, the security minister, to a contested holy site in the city.

Mr Ben-gvir prompted a wave of criticism against Israel from Western allies and Arab states after visiting the al-aqsa mosque compound, the third holiest site in Islam and the most sacred for Jews.

A delicate status quo ensures that Jews and other non-muslims can visit the site as long as they do not pray there. However, visits by senior Israeli politicians are regarded by Palestinians as a major provocation.

Palestinian merchants in Jerusalem’s Old City told The Daily Telegraph that they feared Mr Ben-gvir’s stunt was a prelude to an outbreak of violence in the Holy Land.

Paul, owner of the Old City café, alluded to the mass Palestinian uprisings of 1987 and 2000 against Israel: “I think it’s going to be a Third Intifada, a hundred per cent.”

Samir, 48, said he thought back to Sept 28 2000, when opposition leader Ariel Sharon visited the al-aqsa compound, triggering the Second Intifada.

“It’s like history is back,” he said.