Hundreds take to streets in protest of override power
Opposition members, activists demonstrate against attempts to enact override power circumventing High Court rulings in front of the High Court of Justice in Jerusalem; Zionist Union Chairman Gabby is determined to stop legislation from proceeding; 'You are not alone,' he says to the High Court's justices.
Attempts to legislate an override power allowing the coalition to bypass High Court rulings by special Knesset majority have been ongoing, especially in light of the African migrant crisis and attempts to circumvent a ruling issued by the court on the matter.
Protesters created a human wall surrounding the complex, as a symbol of the people's protection of its establishments. Some of the demonstrators called, "We had enough corruption—corrupt, go home." Others held signs saying, "The country is going down the drain, the country is ours and not Netanyahu's," and "Take your hands off."
The Zionist Union Chairman Avi Gabbay said nothing will endanger the High Court's authority. "The court belongs to the people and serves the people. We won't allow anything to put it at risk. Neither words nor a D9 (a Caterpillar armored bulldozer alluded to in past remarks by Bayit Yehudi MK Moti Yogev—ed) could harm it," said Gabbay.
"This human chain is our common wall that symbolizes the people defending its High Court, a court that protects the people from tyranny. We've come here from all over the country to support Israel's justices and to say, 'You are not alone,'" Gabbay went on to say.
The Zionist Union chief also strongly attacked his fellow opposition party, Yesh Atid, by urging them to choose sides. "The ones who keep quiet, the ones who fear, the ones who don't fight for their values and don't courageously stand to protect them, can't talk about new politics," Gabbay accused.
"The override power was meant to change the core foundations of Israeli democracy, and it's a slippery slope. Is someone here familiar with (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan or (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's coalition members? Probably not, since they don't exist," Gabbay concluded.
Adva, a resident of the north who came to demonstrate said it's of the essence to wage this war. "It will be tough, we have a government that does as it pleases, but if we all unite for this cause, (the attempt to enact an override power) won't go through," she said.
MK Tzipi Livni also spoke about her will to live in a country that treats equally all of its citizens. "We want to live in a country with legal rights and a strong High Court of Justice," she said. "Prime minister, we are neither sour nor bitter. We are struggling, and will not allow you to execute your plans," she added.
"The Nationality Law (officially announcing Israel to be the nation state of the Jewish people) erases equality and the override power is meant to erase the High Court of Justice. If this process is completed, Israel will no longer be able to call itself the only democracy in the Middle East. Israel's rulers have no red lines and they step all over us. We have to put an end to this," she concluded.
