TEL AVIV, Israel – Thousands of people took to Tel Aviv's streets on Tuesday night to rally against controversial judicial reforms, as celebrations began in Jerusalem to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel's statehood.
For four months, Israelis have demonstrated each week, often by the tens of thousands, against the proposed judicial overhaul of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's extreme-right government.
The controversy over the reforms split the nation and divided the government.
In Jerusalem, Netanyahu issued a call for unity as he appeared on a giant screen at the beginning of the ceremony to mark the national anniversary.
"Only together can we achieve our goals… to be united is to know that we have one people and one state, and we do not and will not have another land," the veteran leader said.
In Tel Aviv, the protesters brandished blue and white Israeli flag and chanted "Democracy" at the site of the main weekly demonstrations where they decry the proposed reforms as anti-democratic.
The ceremony that heralded the start of the statehood festivities took place without incident, despite fears that those opposed to the reforms would disrupt it.
Supporters of the reform plan to gather on Thursday evening in front of the Israeli parliament, or Knesset.
Netanyahu on 27 March announced a "pause" to allow for talks on the reforms which were moving through parliament.
The government's proposals would curtail the authority of the Supreme Court and give politicians greater powers over the selection of judges.
Netanyahu's administration, a coalition between his Likud party and extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues the changes are needed to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary.
Israel's declaration of independence on 14 May 1948 is celebrated in accordance with the Jewish calendar.
Artmotion S.Africa
