Judicial reform protests to open with minute of silence for terror attack

Thousands were expected to attend the protests which were being held for their 33rd week.

 Anti judicial reform activists protest against the judicial overhaul and and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the opening ceremony of the light rail, in Petah Tikva, August 17, 2023 (photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Anti judicial reform activists protest against the judicial overhaul and and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the opening ceremony of the light rail, in Petah Tikva, August 17, 2023
(photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Thousands participated in protests against the judicial reform on Saturday night, marking 33 weeks of continuous protest.

The demonstration in Democracy Square opened with a minute's silence for the two victims who were murdered in a terror attack in Huwara earlier in the day, as was announced by Kaplan Force.

This is not the first time protests opened with a minute of silence for victims of terror attacks. Protests in January opened with a minute of silence for the victims of multiple terror attacks that had happened over that weekend.

In a more recent case, Tel Aviv security guard Chen Amir was killed two weeks ago moments before protests began were set to begin.

 Anti judicial reform activists protest against the judicial overhaul and and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the opening ceremony of the light rail, in Petah Tikva, August 17, 2023 (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Anti judicial reform activists protest against the judicial overhaul and and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the opening ceremony of the light rail, in Petah Tikva, August 17, 2023 (credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Thousands protest at intersections across the country

Thousands of people arrived at Herzliya city hall to protest the judicial reform, with thousands also arriving at Arim Mall in Kfar Saba and also at Ben Gurion Boulevard in Netanya all waving Israeli flags.

Hundreds of people arrived at the Negev Mall intersection in Beersheva led by Dr. Gal Ifergane, director of a department at Soroka Hospital in the city, who said "We will continue and be here as long as necessary until democracy returns to the country. As doctors and nurses, we are always doing the work, especially in the Negev. We all hear the thoughts of leaving, not only among the medical teams."

Thousands arrived at various intersections throughout the country notably Karkur near Pardes-Hana as well as roughly 2,000 people at Nahalel intersection, as reported by Israeli media.

Neta Barzilai was present at the demonstrations in Kaplan where she sang the national anthem HaTikva at the start of the demonstrations.