On March 12, 2023, around 1,500 Israelis and British Jews gathered in Parliament Square, Westminster to protest against the Israeli government's planned overhaul of the judiciary.
The demonstrators, split equally between Israeli expats and those from the UK community, responded to a grassroots campaign mounted by the organisers. The size of the crowd, which included 20 UK rabbis and celebrity Israeli-born chef Yotam Ottolenghi, mirrored the turn-out for the last major Jewish demo to be held in Parliament Square in 2018, the Enough Is Enough protest against Labour's failure to tackle antisemitism under Jeremy Corbyn.
Many of the protesters carried handmade signs with messages denouncing the government's actions and advocating for democracy. Some carried Israeli flags, attempting to reclaim the national flag as a symbol of progressive, democratic statehood, rather than a symbol of more nationalistic meaning. There were also several banners on display that openly criticised Israel's continued occupation of the West Bank.
In her speech, Jewish Labour Movement parliamentary chair and Labour MP Dame Margaret Hodge said, "This isn't an issue of the left or right. It's about the rule of law. You cannot compromise on the rule of law. Today we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Israelis, with the Jews, with the friends of Israel who are protesting against the actions of the government in Israel." She added, "The Netanyahu regime must drop its proposals."
Organiser Dr Sharon Shochat told the crowd, "Israel will not become a theocratic, fascistic state on our watch." Her statement was greeted with loud cheers from the crowd who burst into a chant of "Democracia." Merchavim founder Mike Prashker, who moved to Israel in 1978, spoke of his proud Zionist identity and stressed how vital it was to protest the values around Israel's foundation. Finchley Reform's Rabbi Deborah Blausten said, "I'm a British reform rabbi. I don't stand here because I have a vote in the state of Israel but because I, you, we are all part of the family of Israel."
The demonstration was also backed by former Conservative Middle East minister Alistair Burt and ex-Tory Party CEO Sir Mick Davis, who would have spoken at the event had he been in the country. The protestors hoped to defend Israeli democracy and stop the proposed overhaul of the judiciary by the Netanyahu coalition government. Photo by President.gov.ua, Wikimedia commons.
