In one of the most significant demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government since the war between Israel and Hamas began, thousands of Israelis in Jerusalem marched outside the Knesset (Israel's parliament) on Sunday demanding early elections. It filled the streets.
The protests in Jerusalem are expected to last four days, with some demonstrators planning to stay in tents near parliament. On Sunday, some held placards calling for Netanyahu's “immediate removal,” while others held posters calling for elections, saying “You can't fix what you destroy.”
Elad Dreyfus, a 25-year-old student, said protesting against the wartime government was a difficult decision. But, he added, “If the government cannot meet its responsibilities, something has to change.”
Many Israelis are refraining from rallying against the government amid Israel's military operation against Hamas.
“We held out for six months,” said Michal Begin, a doctor in Jerusalem. “In the beginning, there was a sense that we had to come together for the war effort.”
But now, “many reservists have returned to their homelands and many soldiers have left Gaza,” she added. She said: “The need to mobilize for an intensive war effort has diminished. We can now say that this government cannot continue in power.”
At a press conference in Jerusalem on Sunday night ahead of his scheduled surgery, Prime Minister Netanyahu refuted criticism and demands from protesters.
“Now that we're at war, calling an election right before victory will paralyze Israel for at least six months. My estimate is eight months,” he said. “They will paralyze hostage release negotiations and ultimately end the war before they achieve their objective. Hamas will be the first to praise this, and that says it all. ”
Prime Minister Netanyahu has refused to take responsibility for the failure that preceded the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, and has so far failed to reach an agreement with Hamas to return the remaining hostages held by the militants. For this reason, it has been exposed to severe criticism. Gaza.
But some feared the protests could reignite the conflict within Israel, which had been temporarily quelled by the war. In the months leading up to October 7, Israel had been experiencing a bitter internal conflict over plans backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to limit the influence of the judiciary. Large protests against the initiative have taken place weekly, with demonstrators accusing the prime minister of trying to undermine Israel's balance of power and democracy.
Eitam Harel, a 23-year-old reservist from Jerusalem, watched with mixed feelings as flag-waving demonstrators gathered near Israel's Supreme Court.
“The protests are legitimate and laudable,” Harrell said. But he added that “protests could lead us back to the negative discourse we had before the war.”
Organizers said they hoped the protests could shake up Israel's political system.
“I think Israel is facing one of the most difficult times in its history,” Moshe Radman, an entrepreneur who is helping organize the four-day protests, said in an interview. “What we need is a government that will act for the betterment of the country, not for the prime minister's political or personal considerations.”
Netanyahu was re-elected as prime minister at the end of 2022 after spending more than a year in the opposition despite being on trial on corruption charges. His critics say the trial influenced his decision-making.
Netanyahu has consistently rejected criticism of his government, including its response to the war. He insisted the government was seeking “complete victory” against Hamas, even though the group is believed to still have thousands of fighters nearly six months after the war began. did.
As the first night of the Jerusalem sit-in wore on, some demonstrators set up tents and slept overnight. Israeli police said they had dispersed a crowd of protesters blocking traffic and made one arrest.
Jonathan Rees Contributed report from Tel Aviv.