By World Israel News Staff
An estimated 130,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv Saturday night against the judicial reforms being implemented by the Netanyahu government.
More visual from Tel Aviv protest site pic.twitter.com/1BCKMhb5aZ
— OsintTV? (@OsintTV) February 25, 2023
Enormous sea of blue and white flags at the weekly Tel Aviv protest earlier against the judicial overhaul pic.twitter.com/PT7Adqck8H
— Oren Kessler (@OrenKessler) February 25, 2023
On the eighth Saturday night in a row, mass demonstrations were held in several Israeli cities. This week, however, protesters in Tel Aviv took it to a new level: They lit a bonfire and erected a tent in the middle of the Ayalon Highway, a main thoroughfare. Other roads were blocked as well, in both directions, beginning at around 9 p.m.
כבר עכשיו – למעלה מרבע מיליון ישראלים בכל הארץ נלחמים על נשמתה של המדינה ?? pic.twitter.com/3v7uzx3a1Y
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) February 25, 2023
Hundreds danced around the fire; others lit torches and chanted, “No democracy – no Ayalon” and “We shall override,” among other messages.
Fire lit during Israeli anti-gov’t protests on Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway pic.twitter.com/3YI9aB8L9P
— Allyn Fisher-Ilan (@AFilan) February 25, 2023
Police made several arrests and opened an investigation after one of the protesters sprayed the words “Bibi the traitor” on the road. “Bibi’ is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s nickname.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, one of the main speakers at the demonstration, called for “civil and non-violent riots.”
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In Israel kam es erneut zu Massenprotesten gegen die Regierung und die Justizreform in Tel AvivWährend des Protests kam es in Tel Aviv zu gewalttätigen Zusammenstößen zwischen der Besatzungspolizei und den Protestanten. pic.twitter.com/RxBa1hsDQL
— Baro ? (@sjw_baro) February 25, 2023
Organizers claimed that the Tel Aviv protesters numbered approximately 160,000 and that around 300,000 demonstrated across the country, including 25,000 in Haifa.
“The illegal rampage of the demonstrators in Tel Aviv, which includes burning tires on Ayalon roads and spraying an inscription accusing the Prime Minister of Israel of treason, shows that this is a protest by anarchists who are not fighting for freedom of expression, but for freedom to attack,” Internal Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stated.
BREAKING ?? : 100000 Israelis Protests Right Now In Tel Aviv
Massive protest is taking place in the city of Tel Aviv in #Israel against the judicial reform proposed by the Netanyahu govt pic.twitter.com/vCvVH87tUb
— Zaid Ahmd (@realzaidzayn) February 25, 2023
“I call on [Opposition leader] Yair Lapid and [National Unity party leader] Benny Gantz to immediately condemn this anarchist riot and incitement. I instructed the police to act with zero tolerance in the face of violence, incitement and anarchy. Anarchists must not be allowed to set fire to Tel Aviv,” he said.
On Twitter Saturday night, Lapid posted a photo of the protest in Haifa with the caption: “Over 4 million Israeli are fighting for the soul of the State.”
