Thousands of protesters gathered outside the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, desperate to make a last-ditch attempt to push the parliamentarians inside to stop the government’s controversial legislation to overhaul the judiciary. Instead, it was the opposition members of the Knesset who boycotted the final vote on Monday afternoon, as it became clear that the far-right
government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in no mood to compromise, and last-minute negotiations collapsed.
Far-right members of Netanyahu’s government were reported to have threatened to bring down the government if the legislation was not passed on Monday, having already been forced to delay the vote in March. In the hours leading up to the final vote, senior current and former leaders of Israel’s army warned of the dangers involved with passing the legislation, noting the thousands of reserve soldiers who have promised to boycott duty. For the protesters, many of whom walked from Tel Aviv to West Jerusalem, the outcome is a disaster.
Chidozie Chima | September 20, 2024
