Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to continue their protest against the government’s reform of the justice system, ahead of a crucial week in which more legislation and new mass protests are expected.

The protests have been taking place every week since Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, one of the most right-wing in Israel’s history, introduced a divisive reform bill in January.

Causing concern at home and abroad, the reform aims to increase the powers of elected officials over judges. According to its critics, it endangers the democratic nature of the state of Israel.

– “Values” –

“We are here today to demonstrate and join our voice with the voice of hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of Israelis who support the values ​​on which this country was founded,” such as “democracy” and “tolerance,” he told French Agency 36-year-old Daniel Nisman, who works in the field of high technology.

Early tonight, thousands of citizens gathered in Tel Aviv. “More and more Israelis are waking up,” said Josh Drill, a spokesman for the “Umbrella” movement, one of the protest movements.

“We will not live in a dictatorship,” the 26-year-old told AFP.

Israel’s main allies, including Washington, contested the plans, which aim to give more power to politicians and reduce the role of the Supreme Court.

US President Joe Biden has expressed his “concern” about these judicial reforms, White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said on Wednesday.

In London on Friday, where he met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak, Netanyahu was also met by hundreds of protesters.

Sunak stressed during the meeting “the importance of respecting the democratic values ​​that underpin the relationship (between the two countries), including the judicial reform bill in Israel,” according to a Downing Street spokesman.

– “End to discord” –

Netanyahu and his far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies see this reform plan as necessary to restore a balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which they see as politicized.

Israeli lawmakers are expected to vote next week on one of the key elements of the reform, which critics have focused on, which involves changing the process of appointing judges.

Netanyahu pledged in a speech Thursday night to “end the discord among the people” underlining his determination to push through reform.

The following day, the justice recalled him to class, as he deemed his public intervention “illegal” given his ongoing corruption trial.

The text of the bill was amended in committee to soften its content in order to achieve wider passage, but without the support of the opposition, which continues to demand a “pause” in the legislative work on the reform before any negotiations with the majority.