Mass protests against Israeli government’s plans to change legal system enter 21st week

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis are gathered for the relentless weekly protests against their government’s plans to overhaul the legal system. The mass protests entered their 21st week. This week’s rallies come days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition of ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist parties passed a new two-year budget. The main protest took place in Tel Aviv, drawing thousands of flag-waving protesters. Organizers of grassroot protests bill them as a movement to save democracy. They say the government’s plans to weaken the Supreme Court would destroy the country’s system of checks and balances and compromise Israeli democracy. Proponents say the measures are needed to rein in an overzealous Supreme Court.