Israeli settlers protests against Netanyahu govt nearing 10th week

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Mar 2023 22:15

Israelis have taken to the streets once again to protest the government's bid to overhaul the judiciary amid escalations against "Tel Aviv".

Israelis protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, in 'Tel Aviv', occupied Palestine, March 9, 2023 (AP Photo)

Israeli settlers have taken to the streets for nearly the tenth week in a row to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as it tries to pass a law undermining the judiciary, Israeli media said Thursday.

"Around 3,000 Israeli policemen were deployed to deal with the protests against the judicial overhaul," the Israeli Makan channel reported.

"The protests included the medical, high-tech, agricultural, academic, and reservist sectors," the channel said.

Furthermore, the Israeli Ynet news site reported that Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid attacked Netanyahu, saying he would "not stop lying, and the real anarchists are the ministers setting the country on fire", in reference to the premier and his police minister calling the protesters "anarchists" for demonstrating against the government.

Political divisions in "Israel" between the government and the opposition are escalating in light of the exchange of accusations of responsibility for the possible outbreak of an "internal war", as "Israel" is witnessing demonstrations by thousands of settlers against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The police are doing whatever they want regardless of the instructions they are being given regarding dispersing the demonstrations against the judicial overhaul," Israeli Channel 13 news quoted Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as saying.

This comes after more than 130 demonstrations took place all over occupied Palestine earlier on Thursday against Netanyahu's government, and the demonstrations carried on throughout the evening. There have been reports about a planned demonstration in front of the house of the Minister of Justice.

Protestors poured into the main Ben Gurion Airport in "Israel" in an attempt to disrupt Netanyahu's trip abroad, as well as US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit.

In defiance of the heavy deployment of the occupation police, convoys of cars flying the Israeli flag gathered on the highway between "Tel Aviv" and occupied Al-Quds, heading toward the airport's main passenger terminal.

Israeli protest organizers called for an escalation and asked the people to increase their blockage of movement in occupied Palestine, as part of what they called a "Day of Resistance Against Dictatorship", in protest against the judicial amendments.

According to media reports, IOF reservists blocked the entrance to the "Kohelet Forum" buildings, a think tank supporting Netanyahu's judicial reforms, in occupied Al-Quds.

Israeli media highlighted that "traffic disruptions" are expected in the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport and various parts of "Israel".

Under the supervision of Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, police are deployed throughout the occupied territories, according to Israeli media, while Ben-Gvir holds a session to assess the situation with the Police Inspector-General, General Yaakov Shabtai.

"No one said protesting wasn't allowed, but it is not right, acceptable, or appropriate to ruin 70,000 lives," Ben-Gvir told journalists at the airport.

Growing divide in IOF

In light of the growing divide in the Israeli occupation forces, especially in the reserves brigade, over the judicial amendments, Israeli Yedioth Ahronoth military affairs analyst Yossi Yehoshua said 10-15 pilots asked to stop flights since the demonstrations kicked off today.

Furthermore, the commander of the "Ramat David" Air Base was dismissed on the grounds of protesting against the judicial amendments, Israeli KAN public broadcaster Itay Blumental reported.

Blumental explained that the IOF said Air Force Commander Tomer Bar decided to dismiss Colonel "G" "in light of his behavior, which is not appropriate for his rank and position, and he will not be able to continue in the reserve until further notice."

Colonel "G", who until recently commanded the "Ramat David" base, "will be able to appeal the decision to the chief of staff," Blumental revealed.

This comes after about 20 Israeli representatives of flight squadrons and air force command and control units told Israeli occupation military Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi on Tuesday that most reservist air crews will stop flying if the "judicial reform" of the Israeli occupation government passes, Israeli media reported.

During a meeting with the representatives, Halevi promised to reprimand the Israeli government over the insults that some politicians tossed at reservist pilots after most of Squadron 69’s reservists said they wouldn’t show up for a training day on Wednesday.

However, after a compromise was reached, the reservists agreed to come to the "Hatzerim" airbase and hold a conversation with the base commander Brigadier General Guy Davidson.

Former Israeli occupation air force commanders urged in a letter on Monday Netanyahu and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to halt the legislative procedures on the judicial reform and find an immediate solution to the current situation.

In addition, some 130 occupation officers and soldiers in the Yahalom special unit signed a petition to Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant informing him that they would face difficulty serving in the occupation army in case the "judicial reform" passes.

Elsewhere, an officer in the Israeli air force resigned, and Israeli pilots threatened to stop volunteering in reserve service.