Israeli opposition groups kicked off a “Week of Disruption” on Sunday aimed at bringing down Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s coalition and forcing a election within four months.
Eran Schwartz, the CEO of Blue and White Future, which once offered financial and organizational support to groups opposing the premier’s now-shelved judicial reform drive, said protests would continue until a government with “a desire to do good to the people” is elected.
“Our goal is clear: to return the mandate to the people and go to elections before the anniversary of the October 7 failures,” said Schwartz, who also leads Free in Our Land—Headquarters of the Struggle.
Schwartz spoke at a press conference in Tel Aviv that included the leaders of several anti-government protest groups, including Brothers in Arms, Elections Now, Building an Alternative, the Pink Front, the Change Generation and the Fighters from the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
He called on local authorities and business leaders to join the rallies, citing the need for the “establishment of a broad, agreed-upon and acceptable government.”
The protests kicked off with the blocking of highways throughout the country. This included protesters stopping traffic on Route 1 (the main Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway). Bonfires were lit on the Coastal Highway (Route 2) north of Tel Aviv.
Local protests are set to be held nationwide during the day on Monday, followed by a large rally at the Knesset in Yerushalayim at night. Activists also intend to march to Netanyahu’s official residence on Balfour Street.
Another rally will take place at the Knesset on Tuesday, followed by an event in Israel’s south on Wednesday night. On Thursday, more protests will be held near Netanyahu’s Yerushalayim and Caesarea residences.
While some families of hostages held by Hamas since the Oct. 7 attacks have joined the protests, the Tikva Forum for Families of Hostages has repeatedly condemned calls to join the anti-government movement, arguing that politicizing the hostage issue could backfire. JNS
So the protestors are looking to bring down democracy? An elected government official who still has a majority coalition supporting him? It seems that only leftist throw temper tantrums when things dont go their way.
If the slightest infraction of the law occurs, such as one protestor blocks a road, the police and the army should hit back with full force. These demonstrators are destroying our unity, and affecting the war effort. There should be no excuses, and no mercy.
That type of reaction is reserved for Hareidim.