The crowd at Tel Aviv's Habima Square had swelled to 80,000 people by 9 p.m. despite cool, rainy weather. Protesters, many covered by umbrellas, held Israeli flags and signs saying “Criminal Government," “The End of Democracy”.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Esther Hayut issues stark warning against the proposed reforms by Justice Minister Yariv Levin to limit High Court rulings against government moves or Knesset laws.
Roman Zadorov was released to house arrest in 2021 after his attorneys presented evidence that cast doubt on his conviction. Prosecutors expect he will be acquitted of the crime.
Herzog's rare entry into the political fray came shortly after Otzma Yehudit MK Zvika Fogel said that four leading members of the opposition, including Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, "are the most dangerous people there are at this moment."
The ultra-Orthodox sector, in particular, reports the highest volunteering rate with as many as 60% engaging in such activity on a regular basis.
Protesters contend that proposed plans by the new Cabinet will hinder the judicial system and widen societal gaps.
Court asserts Aryeh Deri "cannot say he is retiring from public life and get the benefit of a convenient plea bargain and after a little while say the opposite and get appointed as an MK and minister."
The reforms presented by Yariv Levin – if adopted – would boost the power of the elected officials over the courts. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid denounces the plan, saying it "endangers the entire legal system of the State of Israel."
Currently, Jews are allowed to visit only Sunday through Thursday and not on evenings, but the new proposals that have been submitted to security officials and are now again on Ben-Gvir’s desk, call for the rollback of the restrictions to the era just after the Six-Day War, when Jews were generally allowed on the mountain without restrictions.
The indirect criticism comes just hours after the newly minted national security minister visited the holy site on early Tuesday morning, despite threats from Hamas and calls by the opposition to refrain from doing so.