A fierce fight broke out on Monday morning in Israel’s parliament over the bill for changes to the judiciary promoted by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

At a time when large rallies are planned in Israel against the content of the bill, which, among other things, provides for the prohibition of the ability of the Supreme Court to overturn unconstitutional laws, great tension had erupted inside the Parliament with the opposition MPs protesting loudly shouting “shame and disgrace”.

As can be seen in the video posted on Twitter, the opposition MPs were loudly accusing the chairman of the Law and Justice Committee of the Israeli Parliament, as a result of which the chairman of the committee asked for their removal. However, even when security men entered the hall they resisted and were dragged out.

In the end, the bill was passed by a vote of 9-7 by the relevant committee.

Mass demonstrations

At the same time, tens of thousands of Israelis are protesting outside their parliament against judicial reform that has divided the country.

According to his critics, the bill will undermine democracy in the country in contrast to the government which argues that the reforms will strengthen it.

“Shame! Shame!” shout the protesters while some placards read “Save the Republic of Israel”.

Demonstrations are also taking place outside schools across the country.

Many businesses have given leave to their employees to participate in the nationwide strikes, local media reported.

Also, Israel’s Education Minister Yoav Kisch said that teachers who choose to strike “will not be paid and students who are absent will be absent,” local English newspaper Haaretz reported.

“I’m very upset, very nervous, I’ve been awake many nights,” Helit from Ness Tziona, who went to the protests with her daughter, told the BBC.

“I’m here because my heart is broken to see what the new government is doing to Israeli democracy,” said Dor, a lawyer from Tel Aviv. “You know they are destroying the spirit of this country. And they threaten the authority of legal systems. I can’t see it happening without protesting against it,” he emphasized.