Protests continue in Israel

A tense and volatile atmosphere continues to engulf the small Middle Eastern nation of Israel.

Judicial reforms pushed through by the ultra-nationalist coalition government with a razor-thin majority have polarised Israeli society and driven tens of thousands into the streets.

The reforms will place the Israeli Supreme Court under greater control by the country’s Knesset, or parliament. While supporters argue this will make Israel’ judiciary more democratically accountable, opponents say it will increase the power of long-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has previously come under fire in alleged corruption scandals and some fear an authoritarian takeover of Israel’s democracy.

The first protests broke out at the beginning of January after the judicial reforms were announced. Tensions reached a high point in late March after Netanyahu fired his defence minister Yoav Gallant.

Israel ground to halt as Labour unions and universities called nationwide strikes, with some Israeli’s fearing civil conflict amid declarations from army reservists that they would refuse to serve.

Netanyahu called a pause on the passing of the legislation, intending to calm the situation. Yet, four months later, the protests carry on.

For many, the protests are about a deeper split in Israeli society between more secular and Liberal Jews and the more orthodox and nationalist elements of society.

While Israel was a far more secular society at its foundation, over time, a more religious and Conservative proportion of the population has become the majority.

Ultra-nationalist and hardcore Zionist Israelis, largely from the settler communities in the West Bank, have started to organise their own counter-demonstrations in support of the government.