Amid violent crackdown, 'Israel' convulsed by mass protests

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Israeli media
6 Apr 2024 23:53
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Police use tear gas and arrest several protesters to disperse large demonstrations, which have become a common occurrence amid mounting internal schisms in "Israel".

Anti-government protesters arrested near the Israeli parliament in al-Quds on April 1, 2024 (AFP)

"Israel" is experiencing its deadliest political unrest for the first time, as angry protests have been smothered in a government crackdown of unbridled force.

Organizers of tonight's protests against the Israeli occupation's government claim that 100,000 settlers are participating in demonstrations centered around Kaplan and Begin streets.

These protests, demanding a resolution to release captives and calling for new elections, are occurring at 50 other locations across the Israeli entity, according to the organizers.

This comes as "Israel" enters its seventh week of war against Gaza amid international scrutiny.

'Israel, braces for chaos

In addition to tens of thousands of protesters attending anti-government rallies in "Tel Aviv" and Haifa, smaller gatherings are taking place across the entity, totaling many thousands more in "Caesarea, Herzliya, Kfar Saba, Ra’anana, and Karkur."

The police released a brief statement indicating that five protesters were rammed by a car in "Tel Aviv" and are currently receiving medical treatment. The driver hit the three protesters and continued driving until the police intervened, stopping the vehicle and apprehending the suspect.

According to the police, two of the injured individuals are in mild condition, while the third sustained moderate injuries.

The footage shows thousands of Israeli settlers demonstrating in "Tel Aviv" against Netanyahu's government and demanding a prisoner exchange deal. https://t.co/YWLIuwLQD1
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 6, 2024

In "Caesarea", where protesters demanded a new election and called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation, police detained at least one person near Netanyahu’s private residence. Videos of the incident show police dragging the woman away from a fence where protesters had gathered at the end of a march toward the barricades around the residence.

Separately, approximately 300 people attended a rally at "Sha’ar Hanegev" Junction near "Sderot".

Many protesters are holding torches, which have become a symbol of captive protests, as they chant slogans demanding the release of captives, and some are lighting bonfires.

Tonight’s demonstrations seem to be the most significant since October 7, as per Israeli media.

'Israel to be lost for another 2,000 years': Israeli Res. Gen. says

Amid the ongoing genocide in Gaza, voices from within Israeli settler communities are warning of a dire situation as they caution against the continuation of the war on Gaza that they argue is contributing to the erosion of the foundations of the Israeli occupation.

Critics, including prominent Israeli voices, have accused the government and military of perpetuating falsehoods to prolong the war on Gaza for their own political and military interests. They assert that the narrative being disseminated, which touts military achievements and promises of security, is a smokescreen aimed at buying time rather than addressing the pressing issues facing the nation.

"The majority of the people believe this horrific lie they [the government and military] are spreading on every political and military level in order to gain time for their political and military survival and search for a last resort to save themselves as much as possible," wrote Israeli Major General (Ret.) Yitzhak Brick in an article in Maariv Israeli newspaper on Friday.

The ramifications of persisting with the war, Brick argues, extend beyond the immediate military objectives. He warned of societal disintegration, with the fabric of the Israeli settler community fraying at its seams across various sectors including security, economy, education, and healthcare.

"We've become people without passion, indifferent, disinterested, acting like machines," the Israeli military affairs expert stressed. "Only stopping the fighting in the Gaza Strip now can stop the collapse of the state."

Moreover, he called for a strategic reevaluation and urged Israeli leaders to prioritize national interests over narrow political agendas while emphasizing the need to address underlying vulnerabilities, such as economic instability, strained international relations, and societal divisions exacerbated by the protracted conflict.

"We need to take a break, return the abducted, prepare the army for the large-scale regional war, which is a real existential threat to our survival in this geographic location," Brick underlined. "Continuing the war in the Gaza Strip, which lost its objective a while ago, is the guaranteed path to further disintegration of the state."

"It's better to preserve our military achievements in the Gaza Strip so far than lose them. The opposite is true; the more we continue fighting in Gaza, the deeper we'll sink into the muck," he added. "Destroying four battalions in Rafah and "completely undermining Hamas" is the biggest lie in the history of Israel's wars, a lie they [the government and military] are selling us."

"We are now standing on the edge of the abyss, and if we continue to stand by and believe the fake news our leaders are spreading, there will be no recovery or way back soon, and we will lose the state for another 2,000 years," Brick stressed.