Pro-reform protesters block Ayalon highway

Right-wing organizations held pro-judicial reform demonstrations on Thursday evening in Tel Aviv, the first since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called off immediate passage of his coalition’s judicial reform package.

Israel Police reported that the Ayalon highway northbound from the Kibbutz Galuyot interchange to the Ha-Shalom interchange was blocked to traffic due to the protests.

Organized by Likud activists and the Im Tirzu organization, the protests were called the “Freedom

March” by participants and organizers. Demonstrators are expected to be shuttled around the country and hold a number of rallies in different locations throughout the evening.

The police released a statement on Thursday morning ahead of the demonstrations, explaining that roadblocks will be marked on the Waze navigation app, and that citizens should expect heavy traffic in central Tel Aviv.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a prime mover in the government’s efforts to enact judicial reforms, wrote in a statement on social media as the demonstrations began: “The pictures of masses of citizens going out and demonstrating in favor of the judicial reform gives me strength and warms my heart. I call on you all – make your voice heard at the Freedom March today at 7 p.m. at the Tel Aviv Museum. Do not be dragged into provocations and avoid violence. Our justice and truth are stronger than anything!”

These protests follow a large-scale right-wing rally in Jerusalem in front of the Knesset on Monday.

Right-wing groups including Regavim, Im Tirzu, Ad Kan, Be’zalmo and Torat Lehima, organized Monday’s

protest in response to the march to the Knesset against the judicial overhaul earlier in the day. The extremist La Familia group also took part in the protest.

Advertisements for the protest published online stated that the Right is in an “emergency situation,” warning that “they will not steal the elections from us.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared the advertisement on Twitter writing, “today we stop being silent. Today is the day the Right wakes up. Share it forward.”

Joffre and contributed