Protesters in <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/israel/" target="_blank">Israel</a> blocked major roads on Tuesday in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem a day after parliament gave preliminary approval to a judicial overhaul bill that limits the Supreme Court's power. Crowds waved Israeli flags during the morning rush hour, closing off roads and intersections in central Israel, Tel Aviv and near the entrance to Jerusalem, while some threw flares. Police say they used water cannons to disperse demonstrators and arrested at least 73 people. About 15,000 protesters were gathered at Ben Gurion International Airport and crowds were attempting to remove barricades, which led to clashes, police said. Hundreds of protesters also gathered outside the US consulate in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening, calling for Washington to intervene in the judicial crisis. Previous moves by Prime Minister <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/benjamin-netanyahu" target="_blank">Benjamin Netanyahu</a>'s coalition of nationalist and religious parties to change the justice system have been met with <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2023/07/08/thousands-of-israelis-take-to-streets-to-oppose-judicial-reforms/" target="_blank">unprecedented demonstrations</a> from the public. Late on Monday, the coalition, which commands 64 of the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/knesset/" target="_blank">Knesset</a>'s 120 seats, won the first of three required rounds of voting for the new bill to become law. The new bill seeks to curb the Supreme Court's power to void decisions made by the government, ministers and elected officials. It now returns to the committee for debate and could be altered before going to a vote. The bill must still pass through two more rounds of voting before it can be written into law. But the initial approval is a boost for Mr Netanyahu’s far-right government. Ahead of the debate, some protesters entered the Knesset building in Jerusalem and had to be dragged out as hundreds demonstrated outside. On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu signalled impatience with the rallies across the country, while protesters promised nationwide disruption on Tuesday. Critics argue the new legislation will lead to corruption and abuse of power. Supporters say the change will aid effective government by curbing court intervention. “It is not the end of democracy, it strengthens democracy,” Mr Netanyahu said in a video released as the Knesset debated the bill. “Even after the amendment, court independence and civil rights in Israel will not be harmed in any way. The court will continue to oversee the legality of government action and appointments.” His statement did little to calm opponents of the bill. Protesters rallied outside the Supreme Court before marching to parliament and the nearby Bank of Israel after the bank’s governor Amir Yaron urged the government to seek agreement and safeguard institutional independence. “Continued uncertainty is liable to have notable economic costs,” Mr Yaron told reporters, citing an excess depreciation of the shekel and underperformance of Israel's stock market. In January, Mr Netanyahu was forced to dismiss cabinet member Aryeh Deri, of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish party Shas, after intervention by the Supreme Court, on the grounds of “reasonableness”, over a previous tax evasion conviction.
