Thousands of Israelis protest against government's legal reforms

Tel Aviv: The protest against the government's legal reforms in Israel has entered its fifth week. Tens of thousands gathered in Tel Aviv carrying blue and white Israeli flags.

People are demonstrating against controversial reforms introduced by Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightwing government which took office in late December. The crowd carried signs labelling the new government a threat to world peace, reported The Guardian. The local media says protests are being held in 20 cities across the country.

Some called the reforms a "disgrace."

Former Israeli prime minister Yair Lapid posted a video on social media and said: "We will save our country because we are unwilling to live in an undemocratic country." The legal reforms introduced by the current government include parliament being able to overrule any supreme court decisions with a majority of 61 in the 120-seat body. The new judicial system will also give more control to politicians in appointing judges.

The right-wing government has also announced a policy of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and some reforms the LGBTQ+ community is worried about. Many have noted the Noam party's - one of the coalition partners - anti-gay stance and the policies aimed at delegitimising queer families.

People stood in heavy rain against the reforms that had worried opposition, lawyers, and business leaders. This is said to be widening the already deep divisions in society. PM Netanyahu has dismissed the protests as a refusal by leftist opponents to accept the results of last November's election.