JERUSALEM: Myriads of Israelis participated in rallies on Saturday to oppose legal reform proposals by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new administration that protestors assert will endanger democratic oversight and equilibrium on ministers by the courts.

The proposals, which the government claims are essential to curb overreach by activist judges, have attracted strong opposition from organizations such as lawyers, and sparked worries among business leaders, widening already deep political divisions in Israeli society.

Netanyahu has disregarded the demonstrations, now in their third week, as a rejection by leftist opponents to acknowledge the results of last November’s election, which produced one of the most right-wing governments in Israel’s history.

The protestors claim the future of Israeli democracy is at risk if the government succeeds in implementing the plans, which would strengthen political control over legal appointments and restrict the Supreme Court’s abilities to overturn government decisions or Knesset laws.