Israel's 75th birthday marked by still sharp rejection of judicial reform

Audio 01:18

Protesters marched again in Tel Aviv against Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reform on April 25, 2023. REUTERS - CORINNA KERN

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2 min

The State of Israel is celebrating its 75th anniversary amid divisions and unprecedented political crisis. If Tuesday, April 25, in the evening, Israelis celebrated this anniversary throughout the country, in Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of people took the opportunity to demonstrate against the judicial reform wanted by the Netanyahu government. The Prime Minister may have called for unity on this national holiday, but Israelis have no intention of stopping the protest movement.

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With our correspondent in Tel Aviv, Sharon Aronowicz

A tide of blue and white flags flooded Tel Aviv's Kaplan Street again on Tuesday. To celebrate the country's independence, Kalanit, 34, does not imagine himself anywhere other than among the demonstrators: "True independence still does not exist. What we want is a democracy. When we have a real, credible and established democracy, only then will Israel be an independent country.

For more than four months, Kalanit has participated in weekly protests against the proposed judicial reform. Under pressure from the street, Benjamin Netanyahu has put the legislative process on hold, until the next parliamentary session. But for her, this is not enough: "I am anxious I know what will happen: the freeze will end, parliamentary sessions will resume and legislation will continue. We will have to redouble our efforts, continue to demonstrate and strike. It's hard, but we have no choice.

Ronen, 59, also has no intention of letting his guard down: "We have no hope in them. I don't believe a word of what they say, I don't trust Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu's nickname, editor's note).

Despite the protest movement, the bill will be debated again in a few days, and a mass rally in support of the reform is organized for Thursday evening. The country is sinking into division.

>> READ ALSO: In Tel Aviv, an Israeli-Palestinian association gathers in memory of the victims of the conflict

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• Israel
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