Mass Protests in Israel Mark Largest Demonstration in the Country's History

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have held protests against government plans to restructure the judicial system, which organizers claim is the largest street protest in the country's history, according to Haaretz.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserts that the changes, which would limit the powers of the courts, are intended to restore balance between the branches of government. Opponents argue that the government's plans threaten democracy.

During one of the rallies on Saturday, opposition leader Yair Lapid described the current situation as Israel's 'greatest crisis.' The organizers of Saturday's protest reported that up to 500,000 demonstrators took to the streets across Israel. Approximately 200,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv, many waving Israeli national flags.

In the northern city of Haifa, a record 50,000 people participated in the march on Saturday.

The aim of the legal reforms in Israel is to give the elected government substantial influence over the selection of judges and to restrict the Supreme Court's ability to rule against the executive branch or overturn laws.

This issue has caused deep divisions within Israeli society and, importantly, has led reserve soldiers, who are crucial to the Israeli military, to threaten to refuse service as a form of protest.