More than 100,000 Israelis demonstrated yesterday Saturday in Tel Aviv against the Netanyahu government. Similar demonstrations were also held in several cities in Israel.

Anti-government protests sparked by the controversial reform of the judicial system continue for a 38th week.

A huge banner against a red background read “Dictator Hunted” next to a photo of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister is in the US, where crowds of people express their disapproval of the ongoing reform of the judicial system at every opportunity.

In late July, defying massive protests, the Israeli parliament (Knesset) approved an amendment limiting the Supreme Court’s ability to overturn government decisions it deems “inappropriate.”

Critics of the reform see it as a threat to democracy in Israel. In contrast, the Netanyahu government argues that judicial reform is imperative in order to limit “excessive” interference by the Supreme Court in government work. So far, negotiations with the opposition to reach a compromise have not borne fruit.

Israel’s Supreme Court is considering eight appeals against the disputed amendment.

In an interview he gave yesterday on the CNN television network, Benjamin Netanyahu avoided giving a clear answer when asked if he would respect a Supreme Court ruling against the amendment. “I believe that we should respect the decisions of the Supreme Court and that the Supreme Court should respect the bills passed by the Knesset,” said the Prime Minister of Israel.