TENS of thousands of protesters marched in towns and cities across Israel on Saturday against widely criticised plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to overhaul the judiciary.

Mr Netanyahu, who leads the most right-wing government in the country’s history, and his supporters claim that the changes are needed to curb the excessive power of the judiciary.

But critics, including large sections of Israeli society, warn that the shake-up will weaken the Supreme Court and damage the country’s already fragile system of democratic checks and balances.

Protesters allege that Mr Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges, is motivated by a personal grudge against the legal system and has a deep conflict of interest.

He claims to be the victim of a witch hunt.

In Tel Aviv, protesters raised large Israeli flags and held banners reading “Bibi [Netanyahu], everything has its end.”

Other placards read: “Freedom, justice, peace” and “Rotten banana republic.”

“This legislation is unacceptable,” said retired Lieutenant General. Dan Halutz, a former military chief of staff.

“We will do our best in order to prevent it from happening.”

Today, President Isaac Herzog urged Mr Netanyahu to seek a compromise with his political opponents and delay the contentious judiciary overhaul.