Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against the hardline government's judicial overhaul plan, ahead of a court hearing on a key element of the controversial reforms that have divided the nation.
"There is no such thing as democracy without the Supreme Court. Democracy, democracy!" chanted protesters in Tel Aviv, where the rallies have taken place every Saturday since January.
Protests were also held in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheba, Modiin, Herzilya, and some other cities, organisers said.
Tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated weekly since the plans for judicial reform were unveiled by the government in January, in what has become the largest protest movement in the country's history.
At least 150,000 people were estimated to have turned out at a protest in Tel Aviv last weekend.
The latest demonstration comes ahead of a Tuesday hearing in the Supreme Court on annulling parliament's July vote to limit the so-called "reasonableness clause" used by the top court to review some government decisions.
Israel does not have a constitution or upper house of parliament, and the "reasonableness" law was put in place to allow judges to determine whether a government had abused its powers.
In June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Wall Street Journal he would drop the clause - the most controversial part of the package - from the reforms.
It has recently been used to bar Aryeh Deri, a Netanyahu ally, from serving in the cabinet because of a tax evasion conviction.
"On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will have a discussion on whether the law the government has passed is legal or not," protester Yuval Inbar, 21, told AFP.
"If we don't come here (to protest) we are afraid that the government is not going to respect the Supreme Court."
Politicians last week were quick to reject claims a compromise had been reached between the government and opposition over the judicial reforms.
President Isaac Herzog has been presiding over talks between both sides in a bid to avoid what he called "civil war."
The reforms have deeply divided both the government and wider society, and have implications for Israel's security, with swathes of reservists refusing to serve over the proposals.
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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
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Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
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Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
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16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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World ranking (at month’s end)
Jan - 257
Feb - 198
Mar - 159
Apr - 161
May - 159
Jun – 162
Currently: 88
Year-end rank since turning pro
2016 - 279
2015 - 185
2014 - 143
2013 - 63
2012 - 384
2011 - 883
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