Thousands of Israelis demonstrated Saturday evening in several cities for the 18th consecutive week to protest against a draft amendment to the judicial system backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and seen by critics as contrary to the foundations of democracy.
In Tel Aviv, thousands of Israelis gathered in Habima Square to prepare to demonstrate and march toward Kaplan Street, carrying Israeli flags and chanting anti-Netanyahu slogans.
One protester carried a large picture of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir with the caption "Minister of National Failure."
Israeli police did not immediately announce the number of participants in the demonstration.
Hundreds also took to the city of Rehovot (center), waved Israeli flags, and blocked a major road intersection.
On March 27, Netanyahu announced the "suspension" of the legislative process to give "a chance for dialogue" after the expansion of the protest movement and the start of a general strike.
Interparty negotiations under the auspices of President Isaac Herzog began last month for a settlement, but the opposition remains skeptical of Netanyahu's intentions, and no compromise has been reached.
Organizers of Saturday's demonstration confirmed in a statement that Netanyahu's government was waiting for Israel to be transformed into a "dangerous and religiously extremist dictatorship."
They pointed to what they described as the economic cost of the government's refusal to abandon these reforms.
"As long as the deliberations continue in the president's house, no investments enter Israel and the Israeli economy collapses," the statement said.
Israelis have been demonstrating weekly for four months against judicial reform, which Benjamin Netanyahu's government wants to implement and which critics consider anti-democratic.
The coalition government, which includes right-wing and far-right parties and ultra-Orthodox formations, maintains that the reforms are aimed at correcting the imbalance between the judiciary and elected members of parliament, while its opponents say they jeopardize the country's democracy.