---

 [ WORLD WATCH ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=332)

#  Warnings of 'Dark Dictatorship' in Israel as Protesters Rage Against Far-Right Judicial Reforms​

Written by Jake Johnson.

 [Comments](#disqus_thread)

ISRAEL PROTESTS - Massive protests erupted in Israel on Monday as the country's far-right government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, began advancing judicial reforms that would roll back judicial oversight of parliament and give lawmakers more control over Supreme Court appointments, proposed changes that opposition leader Yair Lapid [decried](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-13/ty-article-live/as-nationwide-strike-launches-across-israel-protesters-block-airport/00000186-495d-d80f-abff-6bdd90c30000#1672341134) as an attempt to impose a "dark dictatorship."

As demonstrations raged—with participants [chanting](https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-israel-government-democracy-benjamin-netanyahu-feda22fd27f348d3839c39bac0c699e2) "democracy!" and "no to dictatorship!"—chaos broke out inside the Israeli Knesset after a key committee voted to move ahead with part of the [legislation](https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-judiciary-overhaul) backed by Netanyahu and right-wing Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who are aiming to virtually eliminate the Supreme Court's ability to strike down laws.

The vote, as *The New York Times* [reported](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/13/world/middleeast/israel-judicial-protests-netanyahu.html), "set off a fracas in the committee room after opposition lawmakers, one of them in tears, chanted against the decision, and some of them clambered over tables to confront the committee chair, Simcha Rothman, a government lawmaker."

Around 100,000 people took part in the Monday demonstrations against the proposed judicial overhaul, which the far-right government appears bent on ramming through despite [public opposition](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-13/ty-article/.premium/why-are-hundreds-of-thousands-of-israelis-protesting-and-does-netanyahu-care/00000186-4a2a-d643-a7ee-5aaa5e970000) and pleas from top officials—including Israeli President Isaac Herzog—to delay the legislation.

In a [speech](https://www.ft.com/content/27fa821f-2e8e-4c66-9550-3860998327cc) on Sunday, Herzog—who plays a largely ceremonial role—warned that "we are no longer in a political debate but on the brink of constitutional and social collapse."

Addressing demonstrators on Monday, Lapid expressed a similar fear, declaring, "We will not stay quiet as they destroy everything that is precious and sacred to us."

"Outwardly they grin sarcastically, saying that \[the protests\] won't change anything," Lapid [said](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/13/protests-and-strikes-in-israel-as-plans-for-judicial-overhaul-move-forward), "but inside they tremble, as rulers always tremble when they discover that there are people in front of them who are not willing to give up."

Monday's mass demonstrations came 24 hours after around 200,000 Israelis took to the streets to protest the policies of Israel's far-right government, which on Sunday [granted retroactive "legalization"](https://www.commondreams.org/news/settlements-in-israel) to nine settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

The *Times* noted Monday that "many Arabs agree that the Supreme Court generally acts as a bulwark against attacks on minorities and has acted to restrain parts of Israel's settlement enterprise."

"But they also feel that Israel's democracy has for years been compromised by the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, where millions of Palestinians live under varying forms of Israeli control without voting or residency rights in Israel itself," the newspaper added.

Aida Touma-Sliman, an Arab lawmaker in Israel's parliament, told the *Times* that "democracy cannot exist while you're occupying other people."

Mansour Abbas, a member of the Israeli Knesset and head of the United Arab List, [said](https://twitter.com/haaretzcom/status/1625112291095052288) his party supports the large-scale demonstrations against the judicial overhaul, which have been going on for weeks.

As *Haaretz* [explained](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-02-13/ty-article/.premium/why-are-hundreds-of-thousands-of-israelis-protesting-and-does-netanyahu-care/00000186-4a2a-d643-a7ee-5aaa5e970000), the new legislation seeks to grant "the prime minister and his or her government—via the legislature they control—the power to override Supreme Court decisions."

"It also limits the court's ability to strike down legislation that infringes on human and civil rights, while giving the government complete control over judicial appointments," the outlet continued. "The battle will continue after Monday's vote. The legislation now moves to the full Knesset, where it will need to pass in three votes in the coming days or weeks. The protest movement is already preparing its next steps."

*(Jake Johnson is a staff writer for Common Dreams where this article was first published.)*

[![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental%202026%20final.jpg)](http://medentalspa.com/)

 ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays

 Last Name

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/fd/064h-fdb0b507.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

### [Remembering Ken Draper: CityWatch and Transparency Are his Legacy](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29355:remembering-ken-draper-citywatch-and-transparency-are-his-legacy&catid=12)

LA WATCHDOG - Ken Draper, the editor and publisher of CityWatch for more than 20 years, passed away on August 8, 2022…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/0f/061a-0f1ada2f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

### [Brace Yourself For A Worse Housing Crisis](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33148:brace-yourself-for-a-worse-housing-crisis&catid=398)

PLANNING WATCH - The California State Legislature will soon vote on the following draft legislation. Please carefully…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/54/064j-54f0ecbd.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9)

### [Be Prepared to Protect Our Democracy in November From a Trumpian Plot](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33204:be-prepared-to-protect-our-democracy-in-november-from-a-trumpian-plot&catid=9)

BE AWARE - Back in the days when conservatives were so hungry for media platforms that they’d come on progressive shows…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/ab/063e-ab3b1ba1.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396)

### [Nithya Raman Loses the Homelessness Gavel — Her Record Explains Why](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33174:nithya-raman-loses-the-homelessness-gavel-her-record-explains-why&catid=396)

THE BOTTOM LINE - Raman wants Los Angeles voters to promote her to mayor. Before handing her the keys to City Hall, v…

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/75/064a-75d5dbb3.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425)

### [Your Boss Owns Your Workday—Not Your Brain](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33199:your-boss-owns-your-workday-not-your-brain&catid=425)

THE NEURAL WORKPLACE - California must protect workers before workplace surveillance crosses the final frontier: the hu…

---

##  [ WORLD WATCH ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2026/051q2.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32951:venezuela-needs-the-world-more-than-ever-english-spanish&catid=332)### [Venezuela Needs the World More Than Ever \[English & Spanish\]](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32951:venezuela-needs-the-world-more-than-ever-english-spanish&catid=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/June-2026/047f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32873:netanyahus-betrayal-of-israels-promise&catid=332)### [Netanyahu’s Betrayal Of Israel’s Promise](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32873:netanyahus-betrayal-of-israels-promise&catid=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/May-2026/039k.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32727:turkeys-egregious-human-rights-violations-are-beyond-the-pale&catid=332)### [Turkey’s Egregious Human Rights Violations Are Beyond The Pale](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32727:turkeys-egregious-human-rights-violations-are-beyond-the-pale&catid=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Mar-2026/022f.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32427:from-epic-fury-to-a-trap-of-trumps-own-making-finding-the-way-out&catid=332)### [From ‘Epic Fury’ To A Trap Of Trump’s Own Making: Finding The Way Out](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32427:from-epic-fury-to-a-trap-of-trumps-own-making-finding-the-way-out&catid=332)

 [ ![](https://www.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Feb-2026/055p.jpg) ](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32307:top-7-mongolia-travel-tips-for-2026&catid=332)### [Top 7 Mongolia Travel Tips for 2026](https://www.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=32307:top-7-mongolia-travel-tips-for-2026&catid=332)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>