Watan-Violent protests erupted in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, including fires and road closures, as part of massive demonstrations demanding the ousting of the government and Netanyahu.
Israeli protesters accused Netanyahu of responsibility for the October 7 events targeting Israeli settlements and military bases, as well as failing to achieve war objectives, including the return of captives held by Hamas in Gaza.
According to the Hebrew newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth,” thousands of demonstrators took to the streets demanding Knesset elections and the overthrow of Netanyahu’s government.
Israeli occupation police sent riot control forces to halt the angry protests, with demonstrations against Netanyahu’s government also occurring near his home in Caesarea and Jerusalem. Four people were arrested in Caesarea in Tel Aviv.
Social media activists shared a video showing dozens of families of Israeli detainees in Gaza continuing to protest in Tel Aviv, demanding a prisoner exchange deal. They were seen lighting fires in the street and chanting protest slogans against the embattled Netanyahu.
عائلات المحتجزين الإسرائيليين في غزة يواصلون التظاهر في تل أبيب للمطالبة بإبرام صفقة تبادل pic.twitter.com/XmxOiptWRl
— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) February 17, 2024
Kaplan Street Closure
In a related context, Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv was closed to traffic in both directions on Saturday evening by participants in the protest against Netanyahu’s government, which took place without coordination with the police – as is customary. Protesters lit a torch and threw it on the ground, and launched fireworks into the air.
Israeli police placed a truck barrier next to a human barrier to prevent protesters from reaching the Azrieli junction.
A few dozen who managed to bypass the barriers settled on the road and were evacuated shortly after.
At the same time, hundreds of people demonstrated in Caesarea against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and closed the gathering square at the entrance to the settlement. Some of them sat on the road, and special police forces were sent to evacuate and make arrests.
In Jerusalem, hundreds of Israelis continue to protest outside Netanyahu’s home for the sixth consecutive week, demanding “urgent elections now.”
According to Hebrew media outlets, the Israeli organization “Waynet” issued a strongly worded statement on Thursday against the police’s behavior, stating: “Under the guise of war and in an attempt to silence the people’s cry, the government of destruction – Netanyahu’s government – continues its efforts to crush Israeli democracy.
The statement added, “The intention of the police in Ben-Gurion is to prevent a legitimate and organized protest where disabled individuals, reserve soldiers, and Israeli refugees are expected to speak. This is a purely political step that underscores the urgency of holding elections and replacing the government that has abandoned Israelis during their most difficult phase,” according to the statement.
Netanyahu’s declining popularity
The Hebrew website “Walla” published the results of a survey conducted by the “Gallup” institute, revealing an unprecedented decline in the popularity of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the largest since 1997 in the United States.
This is the lowest result Netanyahu has achieved as prime minister since the Gallup Institute began polling Americans in 1997, asking them about their positive or negative opinion of Netanyahu.