Thousands march in Israel as Netanyahu allies push overhaul

By ILAN BEN ZION
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in Jerusalem to protesat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s contentious plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary. The protest took place as Netanyahu’s allies pushed the plan through a parliamentary committee in a first step toward passage. Netanyahu and his supporters say the proposed changes are needed to rein in a judiciary that wields too much power. But his critics say Netanyahu has a conflict of interest at a time when he is on trial for corruption charges. They say the attempt to take over the judicial system is tantamount to a coup and will destroy Israeli democracy.