[ti:In Israel, Large Protests Against Proposed Judiciary Changes]
[al:As It Is]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2023-02-14]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]Tens of thousands of Israelis protested outside parliament Monday to show their opposition to government plans to reshape the country's judiciary.
[00:14.96]Some demonstrators carried flags and blew horns.
[00:20.41]Others shouted "democracy" and "no to dictatorship."
[00:26.54]The large protest took place outside the Knesset, Israel's parliament building in Jerusalem. 
[00:36.05]￿￿Other large demonstrations were held in other cities.
[00:41.20]The administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed changes to the country's Supreme Court.
[00:51.68]Protests over the plans have been going on for weeks.
[00:56.68]The demonstrations have been supported by some influential business leaders and former military officials.
[01:07.28]The government plans would give the prime minister greater control over judicial appointments. 
[01:16.33]Experts say the process would weaken the Supreme Court's ability to rule against government leaders.
[01:25.97]The Knesset's Constitutional Committee voted Monday to move the first official version of the plan forward. 
[01:36.19]Several lawmakers were thrown out of the building after trying to delay the legislative process, Reuters news agency reported.
[01:48.41]"They hear our cry. They hear the strong voice of truth," opposition leader Yair Lapid said to the crowd outside of parliament.
[02:01.62]"They hear it and they're afraid."
[02:05.42]Netanyahu and his supporters say the proposed changes are needed to limit a judiciary that has become too powerful. 
[02:16.49]But his critics say the changes would ruin Israeli democracy. 
[02:22.63]Critics have also suggested that Netanyahu has a conflict of interest.
[02:29.71]He currently is on trial for a series of corruption charges.
[02:35.98]Organizers claimed at least 100,000 people protested at the Knesset. 
[02:44.13]Members of opposition parties gave speeches to the crowd which included Arabs, women and LGBTQ activists.
[02:56.06]Thousands of people arrived in Jerusalem by train. 
[03:00.56]Hundreds of others gathered for a protest at Jerusalem's Western Wall - Judaism's holiest place - before marching toward the Knesset.
[03:13.94]Although Netanyahu and his allies have a majority alliance, it is not clear when the full parliament will begin debating the legislation.
[03:26.55]Netanyahu issued a video accusing his political opponents of starting unrest and purposefully pushing the country "into anarchy."
[03:40.51]But Netanyahu noted there is still a way to reach a compromise. 
[03:47.10]"Most citizens of Israel don't want anarchy. They want a substantive dialogue and in the end they want unity."
[03:58.71]At a joint press conference at the Knesset, former defense minister Benny Gantz said opposition party leaders remained united "against the targeted assassination of democracy."
[04:15.71]Netanyahu and his allies took office in December after the country's fifth election in four years. 
[04:24.76]That election centered on Netanyahu's fitness for office at a time when he was facing serious criminal charges.
[04:36.90]Netanyahu has criticized the country's police, prosecutors and judges and said he is the victim of efforts to push him out of office. 
[04:49.55]His critics say the proposed legal changes will destroy Israel's democratic system of checks and balances.
[05:00.98]I'm Bryan Lynn.