Thousands protest in Israel as Netanyahu allies push judicial overhaul

Israelis protest outside the Knesset against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government to overhaul the judicial system,(Ohad Zwigenberg/AP)

Tens of thousands of Israelis – waving flags, blowing horns and chanting “Democracy” and “No to dictatorship” – protested outside the country’s parliament on Monday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government formally launched a contentious plan to overhaul the country’s legal system.

It was the largest protest outside the Knesset in years and reflected the deep divisions over the plan.