Motorways and access to Tel Aviv’s airport were blocked in response to the proposed legislation.

Israel’s parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, endorsed in the first of three readings a bill to discard the “reasonableness” standard, which empowers the Supreme Court to overturn government decisions.

Demonstrations ensued on Monday night and Tuesday, with protesters obstructing several motorways and an estimated 10,000–15,000 individuals marching on Ben Gurion airport. Demonstrations were also scheduled for Tuesday evening in various cities, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. By late afternoon, over 60 arrests were reported, with two injuries due to mounted police when protesters broke through motorway barriers.

The proposed judicial changes, intended to curb the Supreme Court’s power and alleged left-wing bias, were announced by Netanyahu’s far right government upon returning to power in late 2022. Detractors fear these changes will encourage democratic backsliding and facilitate Netanyahu’s defence against corruption allegations, which he refutes.

The standard of “reasonableness” enables the Supreme Court to overrule government decisions seen as overly political, implausible, or undermining public trust in government. Notably, it was used earlier this year to dismiss a key Netanyahu ally from the cabinet due to a previous tax evasion conviction.

The protests, which peaked in March and led to a temporary legislative freeze after widespread strikes, show no sign of waning. There are growing concerns of escalating violence following the resignation of Tel Aviv’s police chief, amid speculations of governmental pressure to suppress demonstrations.