Thousands march in Tel Aviv despite the Prime Minister's decision to stop the judicial reform process.

Protesters demand that bills be entirely thrown out rather than suspended as the government and opposition prepare to meet in Jerusalem for compromise talks. Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu deciding to halt the legislative process the day before, around 3,000 protesters marched in Tel Aviv on Tuesday against the government's judicial overhaul plan. The protest, which was significantly smaller than those seen in the city in the previous 12 weeks, was held due to demonstrators' fears that Netanyahu's suspension of the legislative process was a ruse designed to stifle protests before resuming the legislative blitz in a few weeks, according to protest organizers. They also claimed that the demonstration was in response to Netanyahu's agreement with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to move forward with plans for the creation of a "national guard" force under the authority of the far-right minister. The march began at 4 p.m. from the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv and proceeded to Independence Hall on Rothschild Boulevard. On Tuesday, another group, Paratroopers for Democracy, held a protest in Hasharon Junction, near the coastal city of Netanya. Other leading protest groups had previously stated that, while they were skeptical of the government's intentions, they would halt activities while coalition and opposition leaders attempted to reach an agreement. According to [the prime minister], this halt was made with the intention of giving time for negotiations," the Brothers in Arms group, which leads the military reservist protests, said in a statement Tuesday. We, like the majority of the people, do not believe words, and we do not think there is a genuine desire to reach a broad agreement. We only believe in results." Hundreds of air force officers and other military reservists have joined protests in recent weeks against the hardline coalition's effort to severely limit the power of the High Court of Justice, declaring that if the overhaul passes, it would effectively end Israel's democratic regime. "At the same time, as principled reserve volunteers who led the country every time the country called us," the group said, "we decided to give the negotiation process a chance." "We are ready and organized to renew the protest in a short time," the protesters added. Brothers in Arms will recommence full-force active protest actions immediately if it is discovered that the time set aside for talks is being cynically used to further erode democracy." Another prominent protest group previously stated that, despite Netanyahu's suspension of the judicial makeover legislation, they would continue to demonstrate on Saturday evenings in Tel Aviv. Both the Movement for Quality Government in Israel and the leaders of the high-tech sector protest movement have stated that they will continue to demonstrate until the government abandons its plans for court reform.

This report was submitted to by Times of Israel staff and Emanuel Fabian. 

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