Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Israeli cities for the ninth consecutive Saturday, expressing their opposition to the controversial reform of the justice system promoted by the Netanyahu government.

The demonstrations in Tel Aviv, as in many other Israeli cities, began peacefully but developed episodically. In images that have seen the light of day, protesters can be seen breaking through police barricades and lighting fires, blocking traffic. Security forces used water cannons and stun grenades to disperse the crowd in Tel Aviv.

“I hope this massive demonstration will have an effect and it will be clear that we are not going to give up,” 53-year-old history professor Ronen Cohen told Reuters.

“There is a great danger that Israel will turn into a dictatorship,” said 68-year-old teacher Ofir Kubitsky, assuring that the protests will continue “until we win.”

Protesters complain that the controversial reform increases political control over judicial appointments and enables the Knesset to pass laws even if the Supreme Court rules them unconstitutional, thus threatening democracy itself.

The opposition has repeatedly accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of seeking to serve his own interests. The Israeli prime minister has been embroiled in corruption cases, and his critics believe that if the reform is finally approved, Netanyahu could use it to overturn any convictions if he is found guilty.