BEN SHEMEN, Israel (Reuters) – Hundreds of Israelis opposed to the government’s judicial overhaul plans are trekking under a scorching summer sun on the main highway to Jerusalem in hope of drumming up support ahead of a reform vote next week.
The protesters, many of them carrying national flags and chanting “Democracy!”, set off from Tel Aviv on Saturday for the mostly uphill 66 km (41 mile) walk along the three-lane Road 1, turning off for overnight camping in nearby parks or farmlands.
They plan to reach Jerusalem and rally outside parliament as it begins ratifying a bill that would limit Supreme Court powers to void decisions by the executive – and which critics see as a curb on judicial independence.
“We are going to symbolise the fact that we want to reunite the people and make sure that the country or the state will not fall,” protest leader Shikma Bressler told Reuters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition says the overhaul is needed to balance out branches of government. Yet polls suggest widespread misgivings among Israelis as the planned reforms have dented the economy and worried Washington.
(Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Angus MacSwan)
