Around two weeks after the new Israeli government took office, the political climate in the country is heating up.

With a view to the controversial judicial reform, which the religious-right-wing nationalist coalition is striving for, President Izchak Herzog warned of a "historic constitutional crisis" on Sunday.

The justice system is "sacred," he said.

Christian Meier

Political correspondent for the Middle East and Northeast Africa.

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Herzog also responded to criticism that he was too passive in the conflict.

In the past few days he has tried "by all means" to initiate a dialogue, said the President.

However, he is not sure if he will be successful.

The deep disagreement "is tearing our country apart," warned Herzog.

The night before, tens of thousands had demonstrated in several cities against the plans of the coalition under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Despite heavy rain, around 80,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv alone to protest against the feared disempowerment of the Supreme Court.

Many carried Israeli flags, and some Palestinian flags were also on display.

The new police minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, recently ordered the confiscation of Palestinian flags.

Tel Aviv police chief Ami Ashad said before the demonstration that the police would only take action against rioters and violent criminals.

"We don't care about trivialities." Contrary to what Ben-Gvir had requested, the police also did not use water cannons on demonstrators trying to block an intersection.

Participants in the rally shouted slogans like "No democracy without the Supreme Court".

Justice Minister Jariv Levin's plans envisage that the Knesset will in future be able to overrule the court with an absolute majority if it declares laws to be in violation of fundamental rights.

In addition, the process of selecting the judges is to be redesigned so that the ruling camp has more influence.

Numerous former justice officials have criticized the plans.

The current President of the Supreme Court, Esther Hajut, spoke sharply on Thursday of a "deadly blow" to the independence of the judiciary.

The overruling clause is also suitable for “ignoring human rights”.

Supporters of the plan say the court has accumulated too much power and is making decisions against the will of the majority.

Netanyahu also expressed himself in this sense.

He said on Sunday that millions of right-wing voters were demanding that the reform be implemented.