Israeli media: about 100,000 Israelis demonstrate against Netanyahu and his government (AFP)

Approximately 100,000 Israeli settlers gathered Saturday for a demonstration against the Netanyahu government on "Kaplan" Street in "Tel Aviv".

The demonstrators chanted, "Come on, Deri, go," in reference to the appointment of Aryeh Deri as health and interior minister just months after he was fined and forced to relinquish his seat at the Knesset.

Demonstrators also chanted against the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom they accuse of practicing dictatorship.

Huge protests in Israel against Netanyahu’s plan to weaken the independence of the judiciary and thus weaken democracy. pic.twitter.com/n7x3Ui3qgc
— Frida Ghitis (@FridaGhitis) January 21, 2023

Along the street, which includes a number of government buildings, most prominently the Israeli Security Ministry, in the "HaKirya" zone in "Tel Aviv", demonstrators hung a series of large screens denoting slogans such as "No to dictatorship", given that the protest is expected to extend along multiple streets.

Former Israeli Security Minister Moshe Yaalon told Israeli media that what is happening is not an issue "related to judicial reforms, but rather a dramatic event, the like of which we [Israelis] have not experienced," adding that "there are those who came talking about judicial reforms, then carried out a coup and tried to turn democracy into a dictatorship."

Iran protests? ooops it's not. It's Israel. pic.twitter.com/1WePi6DFj8
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Yaalon further added that he believed that "reforms cannot be carried out by criminals, headed by the prime minister, against whom there are indictments and a minister that the Supreme Court ruled unfit to be a minister."

Yaalon threatened Netanyahu with possible civil disobedience. The former security minister said that he "hopes that we will not reach the stage of civil disobedience," and explained that "if an illegal order is given to the military, it is the duty of the Israeli army soldiers not to implement it." Yaalon also described the government as "criminal, racist, fascist, and chaotic."

In parallel with the "Tel Aviv", there was also a demonstration in front of the Magistrate's Court in the "Herzliya" settlement.

Statements from Israeli officials

The head of the opposition, former Prime Minister Yair Lapid, attended the two demonstrations and noted that "we will not surrender until we win," adding, "Netanyahu must stand behind the Supreme Court... Here, we are facing a question about Israel's path."

"We must not compromise on this coup. We must not negotiate with this madness. The government is in danger. We have no choice but to concede on the things that are destroying us," Former Transport and Road Safety Minister Merav Michaeli said at the demonstration.

Moreover, Israeli media reported that "the mass protest against the coup conducted in the face of the judiciary by the Netanyahu government was extended for the third Saturday in a row," and said that "more than 50 organizations are participating in the demonstrations this evening," including various groups of professionals and students.

One of the settlers, as cited by Israeli media, said: "We see what we built for many years being destroyed with our own hands: our freedom...the children's future."