Thousands of Israelis protest against Netanyahu’s new government

The 37th Government of the State of Israel was sworn in on Dec 29, 2022, marking Benjamin Netanyahu’s 6th time forming a Government of Israel and his 16th year as Prime Minister of Israel.
Thousands of protesters gathered in the city of Tel Aviv on Saturday in response to the new government’s plans for reforms, which are said to include the expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank and weakening the power and independence of the country’s Supreme Court.
“We came here to protest against the degradation of the Israeli democracy. We see a process where the rights of the people will be over time consumed by this theocratic government and we want to avoid that.” said Israeli resident Inbar Shani during the protest.
Another protester stated, “We are really afraid that this country is going to lose the democracy and we are going to dictatorship just for reasons of one person which wants to get rid of his law trial”.
PM Netanyahu responded to the claims, stating “The effort to restore the correct balance between the authorities is not the destruction of democracy but the strengthening of democracy”, adding that “A serious and substantive discussion – however pointed – must be held about the reform”.