The Israeli parliament (Knesset) on Monday approved a controversial draft law that is part of the government’s plan to reform the judiciary, reports Anadolu.
The Knesset television channel showed the second and third readings of the law limiting the “standard of reasonableness”, which the opposition says reduces the powers of the Supreme Court.
The controversial judicial reform plan, spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has led to 29 weeks of mass protests.
The government says the reforms are meant to return power to elected officials, but critics say it’s Netanyahu’s usurpation of power.
He is on trial for corruption and was released from the hospital this morning after emergency heart surgery.
The judicial reform plan has divided Israel, with strong opposition from various quarters, including the military and the business sector.
Israeli police arrested 19 demonstrators in western Al-Quds (Jerusalem) on Monday during a protest outside the Knesset building against controversial judicial reform laws.
“Police continue to work with large forces to maintain public order at protests in several locations in the Knesset area, and in the face of rioters, some of whom are causing disturbances and disobeying police orders,” the police statement said.
Police said 15 protesters were arrested in the Knesset area “for disorderly conduct, blocking roads, trying to break through police barriers and disobeying police orders.”
One of the detainees hit the police officer, the statement added.
It is also stated that a person suspected of attacking Minister May Golan in a hotel in Al-Quds, and three suspects who closed the exit door from the house of Economy Minister Nir Barkat, were arrested.
Three police officers were hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the protests.
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