In Jerusalem, the streets burn against Netanyahu’s government

The streets are once again convulsed in Israel. Throughout this week they are planned demonstrations throughout the country. Protesters demand the departure of the current government, an end to the war in Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages.

This Tuesday a second demonstration is expected before the Israeli Parliament, starting in the afternoon. On Wednesday there will be another protest whose location is yet to be announcedand on Thursday, the complaints will be transferred to the prime minister’s home in Jerusalem.

On Monday, two rallies were held in Jerusalem. One at the foot of Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence, the other, at the foot of the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, in demonstrations that culminated in incidents at night.

Three people were hospitalized and at least nine were arrested in the massive protests that ended in clashes with the police late on Monday, the Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

“At the last minute, riots and a violent riot began on Gaza Street in Jerusalem by hundreds of rioters who rioted there,” said a police statement about the incidents that occurred at the end of the demonstration, when some of its participants They tried to protest in front of Netanyahu’s house.

At the end of the demonstration, which began around 7:00 p.m. local time (13:00 in Argentina) in front of the Knesset (Parliament), and in which some 150,000 people participated according to its organizers, Protesters tried to break police barriers to access the surroundings of the prime minister’s house, triggering police charges.

In the images released by the police, officers can be seen using water cannons against protesters, as well as them lighting fires in the middle of the roads.

“So far, the police have arrested nine suspects following the violation of the order (to dissolve the protest): some of them are suspected of attacking the police and causing riots, and four of them are suspected of setting fires,” collected the police report, according to which several police officers were slightly injured.

On social networks, many protesters spread images of police dressed as civilians conducting violent arrestsin some cases hitting and dragging the detainees, amidst the screams and criticism of the rest of the participants.

A parliamentarian from Likud, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s party, said on Tuesday morning on Kol Brama radio that among the protesters “There are some branches of Hamas.”

The demonstration is part of a week of anti-government protests, critical of the management of Benjamin Netanyahu, to demand the calling of early elections.

In a survey published last week by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, up to 57% of the population supports calling elections.

The management of the war against Gaza, in which at least 312 soldiers and more than 37,300 Gazans have died, and where still there are 116 captives of the Hamas attack on October 7, pressure has increased against the Likud leader’s government.

“A government of dictators. A government of fascists”: these slogans that coincide with the rage that echoes ran through Monday’s march.

For Tova, Netanyahu and his far-right ministers They are ruining Israel: “This government is a coalition of nationalists and fanatic clerics who do not care about the interests of the country. They are only working for their community,” he estimates.

In the midst of the war, the government and its majority are in the process of passing a law to exempt ultra-Orthodox religious Jews from military service, which is mandatory for the rest of the population from the age of 18. “It is unacceptable,” emphasizes Noga, a young student.

“Ultra-Orthodox Jews now represent 20% of the population. They do not form the army. They do what they want. They stand by and are financed by the government through our taxes. These people refuse to fight… we weaken,” says Noga.

In the crowd, Oren confesses that he has participated in all the protests against Benjamin Netanyahu for years. “The situation has only get worse for our hostages, for our soldiers in Gaza and for the people of Gaza. They are all suffering because of a war that I believe should have ended a long time ago“he emphasizes.

“But the Israeli prime minister He is only concerned about his own interests. Prolong the war allows him to stay in power“concludes this protester.