海角大神

Tens of thousands of Israelis 鈥� hoisting flags, blowing on horns, and chanting 鈥渄emocracy鈥� and 鈥渘o to dictatorship鈥� 鈥� protested outside the parliament building Monday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 government formally launched a contentious plan to overhaul the country鈥檚 legal system.

It was the largest protest outside the Knesset in years and reflected the deep divisions over the plan. The proposed changes have triggered weeks of mass demonstrations, drawn cries of protests from influential business leaders and former military men, and even prompted a statement of concern from President Joe Biden.

Despite a plea from the nation鈥檚 figurehead president to put the legislation on hold, Mr. Netanyahu鈥檚 allies approved a series of legislative changes during a stormy committee meeting Monday. The vote now sends the legislation to the full parliament for a series of votes 鈥� an opening salvo in a battle expected to stretch on for weeks.

鈥淭hey hear our cry. They hear the strong voice of truth,鈥� opposition leader Yair Lapid said from the stage outside parliament. 鈥淭hey hear it and they鈥檙e afraid.鈥�

Mr. Netanyahu and his supporters say the proposed changes are needed to rein in a judiciary that wields too much power. But his critics say the judicial overhaul is tantamount to a coup and will destroy Israeli democracy. They also say that Mr. Netanyahu, who is on trial for a series of corruption charges, has a conflict of interest.

The protesters came from across the country. Organizers claimed that upwards of 100,000 people were in attendance, with Arab, women, and LGBTQ activists, as well as leaders of the opposition parties, addressing the crowd. They were joined by groups of academics, army reservists, students, LGBTQ activists, high-tech employees, and pensioners. Police estimates cited by Israeli media were around 90,000.

Thousands of people arrived in Jerusalem on packed trains, streaming up escalators in the city鈥檚 main train station chanting, 鈥渄emocracy,鈥� cheering and whistling, and waving the national flag. Hundreds of others gathered in protest at Jerusalem鈥檚 Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray, before marching toward the Knesset.

In parliament, opposition lawmakers vocally protested the proposed reform to judge appointments ahead of a committee vote that would send the bill to the full parliament for a vote. During an unruly session, members of the opposition stood on the conference table, pounded the desks, and shouted 鈥渟hame!鈥� as a key Netanyahu ally tried to hold the vote. Simha Rotman, a Religious Zionist lawmaker who chairs the committee, ejected several opposition politicians.

The motions passed in a 9-7 committee vote.

Throngs of people marched to the Knesset, the Israeli legislature, a day after the country鈥檚 figurehead president urged Mr. Netanyahu鈥檚 government to delay its proposed changes to the judiciary 鈥� moves that critics say will weaken the country鈥檚 Supreme Court and erode democratic checks and balances.

Many protesters carried the blue and white Israeli flag and posters decrying what they saw as an attack on the country鈥檚 democratic institutions. 鈥淪hame! Shame!鈥� and 鈥淚srael will not be a dictatorship!鈥� they chanted.

鈥淭he people won鈥檛 have it,鈥� said Boaz Zarki, a demonstrator in Jerusalem. 鈥淭he separation of authority is critical to the existence of democracy, and we need to do everything in our power to prevent鈥� the changes from passing.

Other large demonstrations were held in cities around the country.

At a joint press conference at the Knesset, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that opposition party leaders were united 鈥渁gainst the targeted assassination of democracy.鈥�

Mr. Netanyahu and his allies took office in December after the country鈥檚 fifth election in less than four years. That election, like its predecessors, focused on Mr. Netanyahu鈥檚 fitness for office at a time when he is facing serious criminal charges.

Mr. Netanyahu has lashed out at the country鈥檚 police, prosecutors, and judges, saying he is the victim of a deep-state style conspiracy to oust him. His critics say he is motivated by a personal grudge and his campaign will destroy Israel鈥檚 democratic system of checks and balances.

The legislation approved in committee Monday would give Mr. Netanyahu鈥檚 parliamentary majority the authority for appointing all of the country鈥檚 judges 鈥� a step that critics say could pave the way for his trial to be dismissed. A second change would take away the Supreme Court鈥檚 authority to review the legality of major pieces of legislation, known as Basic Laws.

His coalition also plans on passing another law that would give parliament the power to overturn Supreme Court decisions it dislikes.

Taken together, critics say this will destroy the country鈥檚 system of checks and balances and unleash a process similar to those in authoritarian countries like Poland and Hungary.

Eliad Shraga, chairman of the Movement for Quality Government, a civil-society group that organized Monday鈥檚 demonstration, said the gathering was meant to send a message of support to the Supreme Court and a warning to the Knesset.

鈥淲e will fight to the end,鈥� he told The Associated Press. 鈥淭hey want to change Israel from a liberal democracy to a dictatorship, a fascist dictatorship.鈥�

Late on Sunday, President Isaac Herzog appealed to Mr. Netanyahu to put the legislation on hold and open a dialogue with the opposition. Mr. Netanyahu has not responded to the appeal.

This story was reported by The Associated Press.