Knesset plenum faces disruptions as judicial reform debate begins

Opposition MKs raise Israeli flags in sign of protest; protesters removed from visitors' gallery after chanting slogans against government’s plan; tens of thousands march around parliament building
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As the Knesset began deliberations on core elements of the government’s proposed judicial reform Monday evening, the session was subjected to numerous disruptions from both opposition lawmakers and protesters.
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  • Under an unprecedented order from Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, opposition lawmakers were searched upon entering the plenum and were prohibited from bringing in bags with them "for fear of provocations”. However, countless opposition MKs raised Israeli flags as a sign of protest as the session went underway.
    2 View gallery
    חברי האופוזיציה מתעטפים בדגלי ישראל לקראת ההצבעה בקריאה ראשונה על חוקי הרפורמה המשפטית
    חברי האופוזיציה מתעטפים בדגלי ישראל לקראת ההצבעה בקריאה ראשונה על חוקי הרפורמה המשפטית
    Opposition lawmakers fly Israeli flags during debate on judicial reform in Knesset plenum
    Meanwhile, protesters also began chanting slogans against the government’s plan from the visitors' gallery as Constitution, Law and Justice Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman presented the bill and were removed by ushers.
    During the day, tens of thousands of Israelis thronged to Jerusalem to protest the coalition’s push to reshape the balance between the three branches of government, and about 20,000 of them continued marching around the parliament building ahead of the first vote.
    2 View gallery
    צעדת מחאה נגד הרפורמה המשפטית בירושלים
    צעדת מחאה נגד הרפורמה המשפטית בירושלים
    Protesters rally outside Knesset ahead of vote on judicial reform
    (Photo: Shalev Shalom)
    The bills, which stand at the heart of the judicial reform, that will go up for first reading on Monday will give the government greater influence on the selection process of judges and will also prevent the High Court of Justice from striking down so-called Basic Laws, which hold a quasi-constitutional status.
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    2.
    politics as a vocation
    There are people in this world who make a living by intrigue. I am so glad I am a carpenter. A foe pops up, and ages in advance figures are brought into the arena to prevent certain election outcomes, which is foreseen by ages. And while those calculations are done in the minds of the culprits, there is no space and time in their brain to care about the country.
    Jan| 02.20.23
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    1.
    Don’t be intimidated by the Left
    Israel needs judicial reform now. The left will scream, slander protest and riot to grab power at all costs. Should israel be ruled by a bunch of unelected, self appointed leftist activists who can overturn any law that doesn’t appeal to them or fire any minister they don’t like? Why do we even have elections if they don’t mean anything? There is a reason the left is going crazy now. Until now, they had absolute power no matter what those silly Israelis did in the ballot boxes. It is hard to give up absolute power. Don’t let them bully us!
    David| 02.20.23
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    everything yyssid is
    Rubbish
    Josh| 02.20.23
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