Police crack down on protesting settlers outside Netanyahu's residence
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Israeli occupation police forces clash with settlers with several severe injuries reported.
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Israeli occupation police clashing with Israeli settlers protesting against the judicial overhaul (AFP)
Israeli media reported violent clashes between Israeli occupation police and protesters who demonstrated near the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday evening.
According to the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, clashes erupted between Israeli police and protesters near Netanyahu's private residence in "Caesarea". The report stated that Israeli forces arrested four settlers and broke the nose of one of the protesters.
Shikma Bressler, one of the leaders of the "Black Flags Protests" said, "The police showed extreme violence that we have not witnessed before. Dozens were arbitrarily arrested, and injured individuals were taken to hospitals. It was a dark night for Israel."
הלילה הזה ייזכר לדראון עולם.
— 🇮🇱 Moty Cristal (@MotyCristal) June 3, 2023
הפחד של המשפחה הקיסרית מעוצם המפגינים, האלימות המשטרתית בפיקודו של ממז חוף, והספונטניות שמוציאה אלפי ישראלים ללילה שלם בהגנה על חבריהם, האחווה, המלחמה - כתף אל כתף - על פניה של המדינה.
אלו הגיבורים של הדמוקרטיה הישראלית. לא אף אחד אחר. pic.twitter.com/TdwMi78BG1
Bressler stressed that "the government's judicial advisor and the head of the Shin Bet should now declare a clear and immediate threat to democracy and act accordingly."
The Israeli police stated in a statement, "Yesterday evening, an unlawful demonstration started in front of the Prime Minister's residence in Caesarea. Hundreds of protesters arrived at the location, carrying extremely loud sound amplifiers that caused unbearable noise. The protesters violated public order at the location, breached the security areas around the Prime Minister's house, blocked roads, and ignored the police officer's request to stop their actions. Three protesters were arrested for investigation."
חרפה! דיקטטורה משתוללת, משה רדמן, ממובילי המחאה בבית החולים. אייל נווה מראשי ׳אחים לנשק׳ במעצר. עצירים נעלמים לשעות וחוזרים חבולים, עו״ד נחסמים! נתניהו ובן גביר משסים שוטרים באלימות קשה בקיסריה. לא נהיה פולין ולא ארגנטינה. המחאה חייבת להחריף הערב, בקפלן ובכל הארץ. לא תנצחו אותנו! pic.twitter.com/Fnr5ZxDkxc
— אהוד ברק (@barak_ehud) June 3, 2023
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak tweeted: "Shame! Rampant dictatorship. Moshe Radman, one of the protest leaders, is in the hospital. Eyal Naveh, one of the 'Brothers in Arms' leaders, is under arrest."
He continued, "Detainees disappear for hours and then return exposed to beating. Lawyers are prevented [from seeing detainees]! Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir incite police officers to extreme violence in Caesarea."
Josh Breiner, a correspondent on Israeli occupation police affairs for Haaretz, tweeted that the Israeli police lost their patience last night.
Breiner pointed out that a regular protest in Caesarea turned into a display of police violence and unjustified arrests, with detainees being distributed among police stations. All this action was for one reason: to please Minister Ben-Gvir and Prime Minister Netanyahu."
The Israeli Democrat TV channel posted a video on Twitter of new protests, stating, "Second wave - protesters are now outside the police station in Gedera, where the last detainee from last night's protest is being held."
משמרת ב' - מפגינים כעת מחוץ לתחנת משטרת חדרה שם מוחזק העצור האחרון pic.twitter.com/sMGT7tPRLZ
— דמוקרטTV (@Democrat_TV) June 3, 2023
Political divisions in "Israel" continue to deepen between the government and the opposition. "Israel" has witnessed several protests by thousands of settlers against the occupation's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in which demonstrators express their opposition to the judicial reforms it plans to enact. The opposition has demanded the complete cancellation of these amendments despite the government's decision to temporarily suspend them.
The protests, which began in December last year, saw the participation of tens of thousands of settlers and later transformed into massive demonstrations where around a quarter of a million settlers took to the streets against Netanyahu's plans that set to undermine occupation courts and further empower security and military institutions.
