Israel: Thousands of people are protesting in front of the Israeli parliament as lawmakers engaged in a contentious debate over a plan that would give politicians more control over choosing judges.

Widespread opposition has been voiced to the plans, which would give right-wing Prime Minister Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu more influence over nominations to the Supreme Court bench. Many protesters carried the Israeli flag, which is blue and white, as well as signs denouncing what they viewed as an assault on the nation’s democratic institutions. They shouted, “Shame! Shame!” “Save Israel Democracy” and “The entire world is watching” were written on some of the placards.

Anti-Netanyahu protest in front of Netanyahu’s residence in Israel. A democracy might elect a bigoted megalomaniac to power, but it always gives the people the right to protest. pic.twitter.com/6wvc8qkFHs

— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) February 11, 2023

There were other protests outside of schools across the nation. After a boisterous beginning to the hearing in which at least three opposition legislators were forcibly ejected to cries of “shame, shame,” the Knesset Constitution Committee agreed to send the first chapter of the plan to the plenary for a first reading.

Mr. Netanyahu, who is now facing corruption allegations that he denies, claims that the changes are required to rein in activist judges who have overstepped their bounds to meddle in politics.  Giving the executive unrestrained power, and jeopardising civil liberties and human rights by weakening the judiciary, critics claim they run the risk of eroding Israel’s democratic checks and balances system.

“United States President Joe Biden has urged Netanyahu to build consensus before pushing through far-reaching changes, an independent judiciary was one of the foundations of US and Israeli democracies,” as per the report.

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