Iran Press/ Middle East: Israeli police fired water cannon at protesters blocking a highway in Tel Aviv, an AFP journalist said, as demonstrators across the country rallied against the government's judicial reform programme.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv and other cities, according to crowd estimates by Israeli media, decrying what they view as a threat to the country's democracy.
Some demonstrators clashed with officers, with police reporting at least 10 arrests in Tel Aviv over public order offences.
Thousands of people also rallied in Al-Quds outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, Israeli media said.
Police did not give an estimate of the number of protesters.
Rallies were also held in the northern city of Haifa and southern Beersheba.
Israeli officers protest, block route to Ashdod Port
A number of the Israeli regime's navy officers blocked the route led to the Ashdod Port in protest to Benjamin Netanyahu's reforms to the regime's judiciary.
The Israeli media reported the continuation of the protests in occupied Palestine to the judiciary reforms, saying that on Thursday, the navy graduates of the regime blocked the southern entrance to Ashdod Port, located in the west of the occupied territories.
A large number of participants in the demonstration set fire to the tires of cars at the entrance of Ashdod Port.
Still, two weeks ago, a number of Israeli navy forces blocked Haifa Port on the boats in protest against the very judiciary changes.
The protest against Bibi's policies has been extended to the military and intelligence entities of the Israeli regime and is spreading day by day such that more officers are announcing that they would no more want to be in the army military service.
The protests have escalated since the start of the year when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government introduced new legislation that would limit the authority of the Supreme Court.The plan has stirred concern for Israel's democratic health at home and abroad. Military reservists have joined the protests and senior officials in the Finance Ministry warned this week of an economic backlash.
The reforms were announced by Justice Minister Yariv Levin in January, days after the government took office. They have since been met with regular protests across Israel.
Netanyahu - on trial for corruption charges he denies - says the judicial overhaul is needed to restore balance between the branches of government. Critics say it will weaken Israel's democracy and hand uncontrolled powers to the government of the day.
224
Read More:
Israeli think tank: Judicial reform not worth a civil war
Risk of civil war in ‘Hell Hole’ Israel on rise: Former official
Tens of thousands rally against Israeli government for seventh week
