The parliament of israel today he is going to vote in principle on the bill that limits some of his powers Supreme Court, in the framework of the reform of the judicial system promoted by the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahuwhich plunged the country into a political crisis.

This reform, with the support of nationalist and religious parties, caused unprecedented reactions in Israel in the previous months. Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, which holds 64 of the 120 Knesset seats, looks set to win today’s vote, the first of three needed for the proposal to become law.

The bill aims to to abolish the power of the Supreme Court to annul decisions of the government, ministers and elected officials, calling them “unjustified”. Its critics say it will facilitate corruption and abuse of power while its supporters say it will promote effective governance by excluding judicial intervention.

“It is not the end of democracy, it strengthens democracy,” Netanyahu said in a video message as lawmakers debated the bill in the Knesset.

During the debate, parliament ushers forcibly removed, in some cases dragging them to the ground, protesters who managed to enter the Knesset building and were approaching the meeting hall. Hundreds more demonstrated outside parliament.

The opposition has warned that tomorrow Tuesday will proceed with mobilizations if the bill passes tonight on first reading.

This reform was announced at the beginning of the year, but due to the successive mobilizations, in which tens of thousands of Israelis participated every week, Netanyahu decided at the end of March to make a “pause” in the parliamentary process in order to consult with the opposition parties. At the end of June the two opposition leaders, Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, suspended their participation in these consultations.

According to a poll broadcast on Sunday by public broadcaster Kan 11, three in ten Israelis (31%) agree with the bill while 43% disagree. Saturday night tens of thousands demonstrated in central Tel Aviv and in other cities against the bill, for the 27th week in a row.

Another controversial reform, which changes the procedure for appointing judges, has already been approved by the Knesset in first reading, despite criticism from abroad. US President Joe Biden had urged Netanyahu in March to find a “compromise” solution.