Tens of thousands took to the streets of several Israeli cities to protest controversial judicial reform, media reported.. Rallies continue for the ninth week in a row.

A large rally was held in Tel Aviv on Saturday, in which, according to media reports, about 160,000 people took part.. Protests have also erupted in other cities such as Haifa and Netanya..

About 200 demonstrators broke through the checkpoint and blocked the main highway connecting the city with Jerusalem, according to Tel Aviv police.. Police used water cannons and arrested several protesters. Several more demonstrators were injured during clashes with law enforcement officers, who, according to participants, act unnecessarily brutally.

Protesters oppose law Netanyahu and his right-wing and religious allies hope to pass. It will limit the power of the Supreme Court to rule against the legislature and the executive, while giving legislators the decisive power to appoint judges..

Proponents of the move argue that the Supreme Court should be kept from being overly politicized. At the same time, critics believe it will weaken the judiciary, endanger civil liberties and hurt the economy and worsen relations with Western allies.. Protesters fear Israel could turn into a dictatorship. In addition, they fear that the new government may use this to abolish the current criminal trial against Netanyahu..

The Knesset (Israel's parliament) on February 20 approved in the first reading a controversial judicial reform bill that sparked mass protests..

Now the bill is returned to the Parliamentary Committee on the Constitution, Legislation and Justice for its preparation for the second and third readings, which are expected before the end of March..

The well-known Israeli military historian, professor at the Faculty of History at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Yuval Noah Harari, in his article “A moment of terrible insight”, analyzed the situation in Israel and predicted a possible scenario for the development of events. Harari hinted that he could leave Israel if the authorities do not stop destroying democracy.