Netanyahu drowns in crises; 'Israel' sees largest protest since Oct.

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Mar 2024 21:50
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Separate protests take place in occupied al-Quds and "Tel Aviv" demanding the resignation of Netanyahu and immediate elections over an array of issues.

Israeli anti-government protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a prisoner exchange deal during a rally in "Tel Aviv", on March 30, 2024 (AFP)

Occupied al-Quds witnessed on Sunday the largest demonstration since the war on Gaza began last October, Israeli media reported, with tens of thousands of people protesting against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the recent exemption granted to ultra-Orthodox Haredi Jews from military conscription.

Israeli media outlets reported clashes between police forces and demonstrators in the "Mea Shearim" ultra-orthodox neighborhood, as security personnel worked to maintain a separation between the protesters and local Haredi residents.

Eggs were thrown at the protesters, while the police sprayed them with Skunk spray. Meanwhile, Haredi youth set fire to an Israeli flag.

The large crowds gathered outside the Israeli Knesset and parliament, demanding new elections and the ousting of Netanyahu.

According to Israeli media, nearly 100,000 Israelis took part in the march, which also saw the blocking of a main highway and the establishment of a "tent city" outside the Knesset.

لليوم الثاني على التوالي يتظاهر عشرات الآلاف من الإسرائيليين للمطالبة بصفقة تبادل أسرى مع المقاومة وإسقاط حكومة نتنياهو.

كما اندلعت مواجهات عنيفة بين المستوطنين المتشددين والقوات الصهيونية في "ميا شعاريم" بالقدس ومع اقتراب موعد بدء تجنيد اليهود المتشددين في قوات الاحتلال، pic.twitter.com/VVLjBL9Cy5
— الشؤون العالمية (@mjrdzayr337191) March 31, 2024

The occupation entity was rocked with massive weekly protests starting in late 2022 and throughout 2023 until the war on Gaza began. Initially, hundreds of thousands of Israelis were demonstrating against Netanyahu's judicial reforms, which has caused an unprecedented political and social crisis and rift in "Israel".

During a press briefing in al-Quds, the premier expressed confidence in finding a resolution. He also mentioned that having an election during the peak of the war, when he claimed "Israel" was on the brink of victory, would cause paralysis in the entity for a long period.

However, the protesters called for equal treatment with regard to military service among all groups of society.

In "Tel Aviv", another massive protest was coincidently taking place, with demonstrators there objecting to Netanyahu's war policy and conduct, especially regarding his strategy to bring back the captives, many of whom had been already killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza.

Leading the movements are the families and friends of the captives, who are calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a prisoner exchange deal.

As the war on Gaza continues for 6 months straight, and given the entity's inability to secure its objectives so far, Netanyahu has been criticized by many Israelis who are accusing the Prime Minister of making decisions based on self-interest rather than what is the best to bring back the captives.

Elections now!

Addressing the protesters outside the Knesset, opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu is focusing more on remaining in office and on keeping his coalition members happy than helping Israelis affected by the war.

“The lights have been on in his office for a week” as he works “to make sure that the ultra-Orthodox can continue to evade conscription despite the war. The IDF is begging for more soldiers. They don’t care,” he told protesters.

“If a hundredth, a thousandth, a fraction of this organizational efficiency had been devoted to the hostages, or the evacuees, or the management of the war, or the economy, our situation would be completely different [but] there is only one thing that is important to Netanyahu — to stay in office,” he added.

“Let the state burn, the main thing is the office,” the opposition leader declared referring to Netanyahu's mentality.

“That’s all that matters to him, to remain in office. He destroys the relations with the Americans, destroys the security system, abandons the hostages and helps the evaders to continue to evade. Everything is for politics, nothing for the country.”

“This week they are taking the Knesset into recess in the middle of the war,” he added.

"The reservists don’t get a break. The hostages don’t get a break. It doesn’t interest them. Everyone who sits in this government today, the responsibility is on them. Every minister who doesn’t resign, every Knesset member who doesn’t vote against the government, who doesn’t help us send them home, it’s on them. This stain will stick to them for the rest of their life.”

“We can’t live like this. We can’t go on like this. We don’t have to either. We can live differently. We can continue otherwise. As long as we are a democracy, there is a tool that changes reality. It is called: elections. Election now."

“Elections now! Elections now,” the protesters chanted after he concluded his speech.