18 Mar 2023

Tom Bateman: protest and the future of Democracy in Israel

From Saturday Morning, 9:05 am on 18 March 2023
Tom Bateman

Tom Bateman Photo: Twitter

Mass protests have rocked Israel in recent weeks, in response to planned changes to the judicial system by the country’s far-right coalition, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

If the proposal passes, it would give the Government greater sway in selecting judges while limiting the power of the Supreme Court.

Opponents say it’s a threat to democracy, and hundreds of thousands of people joined demonstrations this week in the largest street protests in the country’s history. 

Kim talks with the BBC’s Middle East Correspondent Tom Bateman, who is based in Jerusalem.  

Israelis protest against the government's controversial judicial reform bill, in front of the residence of Justice Minister Yariv Levin, in the central city of Modiin, on March 9, 2022. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)

Israelis protest against the government's controversial judicial reform bill, in front of the residence of Justice Minister Yariv Levin, in the central city of Modiin. Photo: AFP / Gil Cohen-Magen