Why it matters: It’s one of the biggest shows of public protest against an Israeli government in years. It also comes amid an unprecedented standoff between the government and the judiciary.
Driving the news: In addition to anger over the judicial overhaul plan, protesters are outraged that Netanyahu still hasn’t said how he will respond to this week’s Supreme Court ruling revoking the appointment of Aryeh Deri as a senior minister.
- Deri, one of Israel’s most powerful politicians, has been convicted of criminal offenses twice, including last year, when he agreed to a plea bargain in which he admitted to tax offenses.
- When Deri signed his plea deal, the prosecution and the judge made it clear that they understood he was leaving political life. But less than a year later, he ran for office again, claiming he never said his departure from public life would be forever.
The big picture: Netanyahu’s government, defined by the most right-wing and religious coalition in Israel’s history, has been in power for less than a month.
- Its judicial overhaul plan, if implemented, would significantly limit the Supreme Court’s ability to review laws and strike them down.
What to watch: Deri’s aides said he is planning to attend the cabinet meeting on Sunday — a move that would be seen as defying the Supreme Court ruling.