Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of an increase in violence and death threats as protests continue against his government’s planned judicial reforms.
Netanyahu criticized the “growing wave of daily incitement that transcends borders,” his office said Sunday. He also spoke of a “clear threat to kill the Israeli prime minister” as well as threats against other elected officials.
He was referring to a Facebook post by an Israeli retired colonel. Among other things, it stated: “If a prime minister appears and assumes dictatorial powers, that prime minister is marked for death … along with his ministers and the people who carry out his orders.”
The former fighter pilot who led the Israeli Air Force’s 1981 attack on an Iraqi nuclear reactor later distanced himself from his position. Nevertheless, the police launched an investigation.
For weeks, Israelis have been demonstrating against the far-right government’s plan, Netanyahu, to deliberately weaken the country’s judiciary. Experts warn unequivocally that the reform will jeopardize democracy in Israel.
Netanyahu said of the threat to him, “I know there is debate about what threatens democracy, but that’s not what’s up for debate – it really threatens democracy.”
In the face of further calls for violent resistance to reform, domestic intelligence chief Shin Bet Ronen Bar announced a “zero tolerance policy” for incitement to violence.
March of Tens of Thousands
Earlier Saturday, tens of thousands of Israelis protested for the fifth consecutive Saturday against a controversial restructuring of the judiciary.
Despite rainy weather, a crowd of about 40,000 people gathered in the center of the coastal city of Tel Aviv.
Many waved Israeli flags and chanted “freedom, equality, quality government.” About 10,000 people also took to the streets of Haifa.
Eliad Shraga, chairman of the Quality Government Movement, compared Netanyahu to the Roman emperor Nero, who looked with satisfaction at the burning of Rome.
“Shame, shame, shame,” Shraga yelled repeatedly as the crowd joined in. According to him, Netanyahu wanted to abuse the reform in order to avoid being convicted in a corruption case.
Netanyahu has been accused of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, allegations he has consistently denied, calling them a “witch hunt.”
Shraga also warned of the government’s “satanic plan” to turn Israel from a Jewish democratic state into a dictatorship.
Saturday’s protests come days after Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said Netanyahu should not be involved in the controversial judicial restructuring, citing a “possible conflict of interest.”
