Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of cities and towns on Saturday for the 23rd straight week, protesting controversial judicial reform plans as well as deadly violence against Arabs living in occupied Palestine.

Iran PressMiddle East: The hard-right government's reform proposals would curtail the authority of the Supreme Court and give politicians greater powers over the selection of judges.

In March, the Zionist regime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a "pause" to allow for talks on the divisive reforms.

In central Tel Aviv, where thousands have gathered, protesters held signs criticizing government inaction over a soaring crime wave that has affected the Arabs living in occupied Palestine.

Since the start of the year, some 100 people have been killed in crime-related violence against Arabs living in occupied Palestine, according to NGOs.

On Thursday, five Arabs were shot dead at a car wash in Haifa, an Arab town near the city of an-Nasira, police said.

Arabs living in occupied Palestine have long complained of discrimination and the Zionist regime's police inaction against violence and crime that disproportionately affects their communities.

Organizers claimed more demonstrations on Saturday across the occupied territories including in the cities of Haifa and Rehovot.

Netanyahu's government, a coalition between his Likud party and extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues the changes are needed to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary.

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