Ex-Israeli PM calls for besieging Knesset, paralyzing government
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Ehud Barak says in an interview that paralyzing the government would send Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a clear message that "his time is up."
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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak giving an address in 'Tel Aviv' on July 25, 2019 (AFP)
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak advocated for a siege of the Knesset to communicate to the current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that he is "not trusted."
In an interview with the Israeli Army Radio, Barak said, "We need 30 thousand citizens to encircle the Knesset in tents for three weeks, day and night. When the state is shut down - Netanyahu will realize that his time is up and that there is no trust in him."
But the former premier underscored that ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot should remain in the war cabinet, "I have come to the conclusion, they should definitely remain in the war cabinet," to counter attempted measures of extreme right-wing ministers such as Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Finance Minister Smotrich.
Angry protests continue
For the tenth consecutive week, "Tel Aviv" has witnessed on Saturday clashes between police and protesting settlers calling for new elections and demanding Netanyahu's resignation.
#Watch | Israeli police use water cannons to disperse the families of captives held in #Gaza protesting in "Tel Aviv". https://t.co/IRRPSkJNuv
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) February 24, 2024
Families of Israeli captives held in Gaza are also demanding that Netanyahu engage in prisoner-captive negotiations with the Resistance Hamas.
Read more: ‘136 coffins not what victory looks like,' Israeli settlers protest
Thousands of anti-government Israelis also held a Saturday protest rally outside the Israeli President’s residence in occupied al-Quds. Similar gatherings were earlier held in front of Netanyahu's residence.
Speakers at the demonstrations also condemned Ben-Gvir's proposed restrictions on Muslim access to al-Aqsa during the holy month of Ramadan, fearing a backlash.
Israeli media reported that Netanyahu has yielded the police minister's demands.
According to reports, the Shin Bet has warned that such a measure will undoubtedly exacerbate tensions, especially any move that applies to Palestinians from '48 occupied territories and those who have a "permanent residence", knowing that the Israeli occupation police favor such a move.
“It’s clear to everyone that this will lead to an amplification of risk, a real flare-up in Jerusalem,” said "Save our Shared Home" activist Osnat Hazan, labeling Ben-Gvir “the national security minister who is doing everything to ensure there is no national security,” as per The Times of Israel.
