Jewish Americans In SAN FRANCISCO Protest ISRAEL “Fascist” Government

March 2023
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(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Jewish Americans and Israeli Americans protesting the “un-democratic” new far-right government of Israel Sunday, Mar.26, 2023, at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, California.

By Gary Raynaldo – DIPLOMATIC TIMES CORRESPONDENT

SAN FRANCISCO – More than 100 American and Israeli Jews rallied in San Francisco Sunday to protest the judicial reforms of Israel’s ultra-right government. There was a sea of Israeli flags flying in the San Francisco breeze as the protesters gathered at Civic Center Plaza across from City Hall. They came out in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Israel who have been demonstrating in Tel Aviv. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been protesting for months against the planned radical judicial changes hatched by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu. Critics accuse the PM of forming his new government with the most reactionary forces in the country, including the fascistic and racist Religious Zionism Party. On 4 January 2023, newly-appointed Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced plans to reform Israel’s judiciary, including limiting the power of the Supreme Court and of the government’s legal councilors, and granting the governing coalition a majority on the committee that appoints judges. Some are even of the belief that Israel at the moment is experiencing its biggest threat since the Yom Kippur war in 1973. Netanyahu’s fired his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Friday for speaking out against the planned measures. Netanyahu announced Monday that he would delay his government’s plan to overhaul Israel’s judiciary. Sunday’s San Francisco rally was organized by UnXeptable, a grassroots group formed by Israeli expats in the Bay Area who strongly oppose Netanyahu and his right-wing governing coalition.

“The urgency level is now critical – in two weeks, the Israeli parliament will vote on these destructive laws’ second and third rounds. We, Israeli ex-pats and American Jews, must raise our voices in solidarity with the escalating protests in Israel and 25 cities worldwide.”

–UnXeptable

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) More than 100 Jewish Americans and Israeli Americans protesting the “un-democratic” new far-right government of Israel Sunday, Mar.26, 2023, at Civic Center Plaza in San Francisco, California. The protest was organized by Bay Area group UnXeptable.

**According to UnXeptable, Israel’s democracy is gravely in danger.**

“We, Israeli ex-pats and the world’s Jewry oppose the following actions of the Israeli government”:

-The attempt to institutionalize discrimination and racism

-The attack on the judicial system and its subjugation to politicians. In particular, we oppose attempts to harm the independent status of the Supreme Court of Justice ; The intention to harm the independence of the media and the freedom of the press. The intention to turn the Israeli security forces, military, and law enforcement into an instrument of extremist politicians, both within the borders of the State of Israel and in the Occupied Territories.’

DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO / Jewish Americans and Israeli Americans protesting the “un-democratic” new far-right government of Israel Sunday, Mar.26, 2023, in San Francisco, California sing Israeli National Anthem for the future of Israel.

“We Won’t Back Down. We Will Keep Demonstrating and Disrupting. We Are Not Giving Up, We Have Taught Our Children To Never Let Israel Fall”

-Saving Israeli Democracy Activist says Israel is now like the Winter of 1973

DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO / Jewish Americans and Israeli Americans protesting the “un-democratic” new far-right government of Israel Sunday, Mar.26, 2023, in San Francisco, California.

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Protester at rally in San Francisco against Israel far-right government Mar. 26, 2023.

Many are outraged by Bibi’s judicial plan to remake the courts because it would give Netanyahu’s government greater authority to chose judges, including those presiding over his corruption trial, in which he is charged in three cases and faces potential prison time.

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Protester at rally in San Francisco against Israel far-right government Mar. 26, 2023 holds placard referencing the fact the United States gives $3.8bn (£2.7bn) in aid to Israel annually.

State Senator Scott Weiner Supports The Israel Democracy Cause

California State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco (senate.ca.gov)

State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco has lent his support to the cause and has participated in the Bay Area rallies calling for democracy in Israel.

“I am here as a Jew. I am here as a gay man. I am here as the grandson of people who fled Eastern Europe, who fled pogroms, and were lucky to be able to come here. I’m here as someone who deeply understands why it is so important for the State of Israel to exist. And I’m here as a supporter of the State of Israel.”

-State Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco told the Jewish News of Northern California at recent rally.

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Protesters at rally in San Francisco against Israel far-right government Mar. 26, 2023.

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Protester at rally in San Francisco against Israel far-right government Mar. 26, 2023.

(Photo by Gary Raynaldo / ©Diplomatic Times) Protesters at rally in San Francisco against Israel far-right government Mar. 26, 2023.

Tagged with: Benjamin Netanyahu, Judicial Reform, law, protest, protests, San Francisco

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