Previous anti-government protest
Previous anti-government protestצילום: תומר נאוברג, פלאש 90

Police are gearing up for a major left-wing protest in Tel Aviv Saturday, as Opposition lawmakers continue their calls for demonstrations and civil disobedience against the government’s planned judicial reforms.

Critics of Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s (Likud) plan to curtail the Supreme Court’s ability to overturn Knesset laws and to enable government ministers to select their own legal advisors are slated to gather in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square Saturday evening for a protest led by former Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, and Israel Bar Association head Avi Himi.

Roughly 1,000 police officers will be deployed to the area to secure the demonstration.

A police official said that water cannons will be also be deployed, in case the demonstration turns violent. The official added that National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered police officials to prepare for the left-wing protest in the same manner as the department has for right-wing and haredi protests, where water cannons have frequently been used to disperse demonstrators.

The police department emphasized that it will not permit demonstrators to use “Nazi symbols” as part of the protest, after such symbols were used during last Saturday’s demonstration.

Activists from the anti-Netanyahu “Crime Minister” protest group accused police of smearing left-wing demonstrators.

“The police statement is libelous and dangerous incitement against people who followed the law during their protests for years. This is a blatant attempt to weaken the protest and to deter people from coming. It looks like the police have raised the white flag and become the political police of Ben-Gvir.”

Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz is slated to take part in the protest, accusing Netanyahu of a “coup d’état.”

"The intentions of the coalition and Netanyahu to carry out a coup d'état, in a quick and chaotic manner, while violating the most basic values of the Declaration of Independence and refusing to negotiate for broad agreements – is dangerous for the State of Israel," Gantz said Thursday.

"We reached out to negotiate, and our hand is still being extended - but we will not give up and will fight with all legal means to prevent these extreme measures. I call on you to come on Saturday night to Habima Square with Israeli flags, to behave in accordance with the law, without inciting signs, and not to be dragged into provocations that will only harm the fight. This is not a civil uprising - it is a civil duty," he added.

Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid urged Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai not to use water cannons on demonstrators at the upcoming protest.

"These demonstrators are the greatest lovers of the State of Israel and should be treated as such. I expect you to direct the police to treat the protesters with respect and do everything to allow them to express a legitimate protest."

"The role of the Israel Police is to guard them, not to 'prepare for them', not to use water cannons, to make sure that excessive force is not used against them while they are fulfilling their civic duty," Lapid wrote.