A large group of New Yorkers protested outside the Consulate General of Israel in Manhattan on Monday.
The demonstration was in support of the mass protests happening thousands of miles away Israel.
“I have a 15-year-old niece and I protest for her,” Julia Arazi, who stood in rain Monday with the large group, said.
The protests are in opposition to a judicial overhaul that would give the Israeli governing body control over the appointment of judges. Parliament would also gain the power to override decisions by the Israeli Supreme Court.
“Once they take away the power of the high court, they can do anything that they want and that is extremely terrifying,” Rabbi Jill Jacobs, the CEO of T’ruah, said.
T’ruah is a Jewish nonprofit organization that advocates for human rights.
While protests have happened for weeks in Israel, protests grew on Monday and brought the nation to a halt. The unrest is coming after Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, fired his defense minister who opposed the overhaul.
“I think for a lot of people, that was the last straw,” Frances Arazi, who protested on Monday in the city, said. “I lived there for many years and valued the freedom and the acceptance of people there. And I think it’s really important to support that.”
Supporters of the overhaul say it’s necessary because they believe the Supreme Court has overstepped its role and gotten involved in issues it should not. THOSE who are opposed say the changes would allow the Israeli government to infringe on the rights of many.
“They are willing to discriminate against women, against LGBTQ, against Arabs, against all minorities in Israel,” protestor Moti Amihai Bivas said. “You know, Israel doesn’t have a constitution. We want a constitution that will guarantee human rights, civil rights, women’s rights, gay rights in Israel. And this is something that we don’t have and maybe this is the time to bring it.”
On Monday, Netanyahu said the overhaul has been put on hold until after the Passover recess in April.