Tens of thousands of demonstrators participated in a number of marches held Saturday evening in Tel Aviv in protest of Yariv Levin's legal plan, which among other things, includes major reforms in appointing Supreme Court justices. Although by the time the evening was over, the crowd was much thinner as it became apparent the protest was less about a legislative overreach and more about Palestinian rights.
The demonstrations began in Habima Square, where, according to the organizers' estimates, about 15,000 people gathered. Once Habima square was completely filled, the protesters spilled onto the nearby roads. Later, according to the organizers, about 30,000 people participated in the "Rage March" against the new government that also began at Habima. The most generous news estimates had the crowd at 10,000 at its peak.
The protesters would eventually march towards the Israel Museum, where a rally was held and speeches were made by social activists and members of the Knesset. The chain of protest events ended with a final march with torches that moved towards the headquarters of the Likud, also known as “Mitzudat Ze’ev”.
At the anti government protest in Tel Aviv tonight, the anti-apartheid bloc were repeatedly accosted & intimidated by other protesters, who tried multiple times to rip down the Save Masafer Yatta banner, & steal a Palestinian flag. pic.twitter.com/8CwfQgVtno
— Em Hilton #SaveMasaferYatta 🔥✡️💇🏼♀️ (@emtravelodge) January 7, 2023
The march was organized by a coalition of groups all against the new government and its planned measures. On behalf of the protesters, it was stated: "The dangerous coup d'état of Netanyahu and his partners in the criminal government will be met with unprecedented civil resistance."
However, once the speeches began it seemed as if many in the crowd lost their interest as it turned from a protest against an overreaching piece of legislation into a condemnation of Israel's policy with regard to the Palestinians. Less than a quarter of Israel's population believe Israel has not done enough to help the Palestinians, while the majority believe that it is the Palestinians who are the obstacles to peace.
Nice to see da Palestinian flag in Tel Aviv’s “democracy protest” 😬 pic.twitter.com/f6ZO01XSsW
— Abier (@abierkhatib) January 7, 2023
Many who came to protest the legislation found themselves surrounded by pro-Palestinian signs and flags, and there were many incidents in which arguments broke out amongst those in the crowd. One of the organizations that led the protest was “Standing Together”, which focuses its efforts on Palestinian Human Rights and equality. In Its statement, the non-profit said: "The extremist and dangerous elements in the newly formed government are already planning on harming us all; how to deepen the racist discrimination against the Arab citizens, how to cut the social budgets, how to discriminate on the basis of gender and sexuality. We will not sit at home idly and we will not succumb to despair and frustration. Where there is a struggle - there is also hope. And we will go out to fight for the house of all of us."
Israeli news sites reporting just 2000 but there are many more on the ground https://t.co/1686yW3LCE
— Mairav Zonszein מרב זונשיין (@MairavZ) January 7, 2023
The “Black Flags”, an anti-Netanyahu activist group also added that they plan on turning these marches into weekly events. "Next Saturday we will continue to demonstrate against the coup d'état. The tens of thousands who came out tonight will be joined next Saturday, at 19:30, by even more Israelis to protest against the coup d'état. This is our democracy and we will not allow a handful of accused and convicted criminals to crush the State of Israel. In front of the coup, there will be unprecedented resistance. See you next week!"
The leader of the Labor Party, former minister Merav Michaeli who spoke at Habima Square said: “Together with thousands of amazing demonstrators we came out to protest and shout with a clear goal - our country cannot be destroyed! We will continue to fight for our democracy."
