TEL AVIV -Massive demonstrations disrupt Israel's transportation system and cause major traffic disruptions as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition pushes forward with a controversial justice bill that has sparked widespread division in the country.

Following the passage of a crucial component of the bill by parliament, protesters, waving flags, block roads and highways, with some individuals lying down on the streets and others igniting flares.

Mounted police were present among the hundreds of demonstrators in Tel Aviv, Israel's main business center. In Jerusalem, officers resorted to using a water cannon to disperse certain protesters and forcefully removed others. The police reported that at least 66 individuals were arrested.

Approximately 1,000 police officers were stationed at Ben Gurion airport, near Tel Aviv, as thousands of protesters flooded the area in front of the main entrance, displaying numerous Israeli flags. Despite the large crowds, airport officials stated that flights remained unaffected.

The United States has expressed its support for safeguarding the independence of the judiciary and has encouraged Netanyahu to seek consensus for the proposed changes.

They have also emphasized the importance of Israel respecting the right to peaceful protest. Netanyahu's coalition's efforts to reform the justice system have sparked unprecedented protests, raised concerns among Western allies about the state of Israel's democracy, and had negative effects on the economy.

"They are attempting to destroy our judiciary by introducing and implementing laws that will dismantle democracy," stated Ariel Dubinsky, who participated in a protest in Tel Aviv.

The proposed changes have also caused concern among investors and contributed to a decline in the value of the shekel, which has dropped nearly 8% since January.

The proposed bill successfully passed its first vote on Monday, leading to opposition lawmakers expressing their disapproval with cries of "for shame."

If the bill is ultimately passed, it would limit the Supreme Court's authority to overturn decisions made by the government, ministers, and elected officials by deeming them unreasonable.

Supporters of the government argue that the overhaul is necessary to restrain interventionist judges, particularly those with left-leaning ideologies, who they believe have encroached on the political realm. They claim that reducing court intervention will enhance effective governance, asserting that judges have alternative legal avenues to exercise oversight.

Critics, including prominent figures in the tech and business sectors, contend that Supreme Court oversight is crucial in preventing corruption and abuses of power. They argue that weakening it would erode an essential aspect of Israel's democratic system of checks and balances.

Additionally, even groups of military reservists, such as combat pilots and elite special forces units, have joined the protests against the bill.

Some members of Netanyahu's Likud party have suggested that the bill may undergo revisions before its final vote, which they aim to conclude before the Knesset's summer break on July 30.

However, Simcha Rothman, the head of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee responsible for drafting the bill, expressed skepticism about significant changes to the proposal.

Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges that he denies, had previously halted the judicial campaign to engage in compromise talks with the opposition. However, the negotiations collapsed in June.