The anti-reasonableness bill voted up by the Israeli Knesset on Monday, July 24, took effect this morning, reported the [Jerusalem Post}, on its live update page. However, the protests against the judicial reform won’t stop, and opposition leaders have promised an effort to overturn it. “These protests are not going anywhere, especially because the government has clearly stated that this is just phase one,” Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank, told Associated Press. “This is the most widespread and significant democratic awakening in the history of the country. Clearly, it won’t end.” Indeed, there were more protests in Tel Aviv last night, with the burning of tires, setting off of fireworks and the waving of flags. In Jerusalem, mounted police and water cannons sprayed foul-smelling liquid (called “skunk water") and cleared protesters from a main highway. At least 40 people were arrested by police in protests around the country, AP further reported. Videos showed police officers dragging protesters by the hair and neck, beating people until they bled, and violently pushing them back with batons. At least 10 officers were assaulted and injured, police said.
Israeli society is now so polarized, that even the Israeli Defense Force is at risk of splitting, with thousands of reservists vowing to quit volunteering for military service. Military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari warned yesterday, that if reservist troops don’t show up for duty over a lengthy period of time, the IDF’s readiness will be harmed. “At the current point in time, the IDF is competent. There was an increase in requests to end reserve service, and alongside this, there is a dialogue between commanders and service members ,” Hagari said, reported the Times of Israel. “If reservists do not report for a long time, there will be damage to the army’s competence. This is a gradual process that will be affected according to the reporting for duty of the reservists,” he adds.
