Tens of thousands at Jerusalem’s largest anti-government protest since the start of the war

NOS News•today, 05:38

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Jerusalem last evening and night to protest against Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. According to Israeli media, it was the largest anti-government demonstration since the start of the war.

At the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, demonstrators demanded that the prime minister resign and new elections be called. Relatives of hostages also want a deal to be made with Hamas as soon as possible to free their loved ones. In the background there is also dissatisfaction about the controversial legal reforms, against which there were massive demonstrations in Israeli cities last year.

Before the demonstration at the Knesset, there was a confrontation between demonstrators and ultra-Orthodox Jews. Demonstrators who blocked a number of roads were pelted with eggs and bottles, according to the Haaretz newspaper. The activists are against a bill to keep the so-called haredim exempt from military service. There is a fierce debate going on in Israel about this subject.

Prime Minister Netanyahu underwent surgery for a hernia yesterday. His employees announced in the evening that the operation had been successful. The hernia was diagnosed on Saturday during a routine check-up of the 74-year-old leader.

“Elections during a war, just before victory, will paralyze Israel for at least six months,” the prime minister said before his operation. He also reiterated that the army will invade Rafah anyway. There is increasing international criticism of this plan, because more than a million Palestinians are sheltering in the southern city in Gaza.

Today there will probably be consultations between the US and Israel about the announced offensive. This is what anonymous American and Israeli officials say to news site Axios, which is usually well informed. Last week, Israel canceled a planned meeting with Washington on Rafah. The reason for this was that for the first time the US had not blocked a vote in the UN Security Council on a call for a ceasefire.