Despite the halt in legislation, demonstrations against the government’s judicial reform plan were held at multiple locations in Israel on Saturday. A few dozen protesters who participated in the demonstration in Tel Aviv managed to block the southbound lanes of the Ayalon Highway near Yitzhak Sade Street. Police officers and a water cannon are at the scene.
During the demonstration in Tel Aviv, teenagers who intend to refuse to enlist in the army burned their draft notices. Sophia Orr (17), who intends to refuse to enlist this summer, said, “Israel is the strongest factor in the equation, and therefore has the power and responsibility to work for a better future for both peoples. Instead, it is working for Jewish supremacy and annexation that shamelessly declares that millions of Palestinians will be left without basic civil rights That’s why now more than ever, it’s important to fight for democracy for everyone and not stop at the green line. I refuse to enlist in the IDF and help Israel implement this policy, and I refuse to do so quietly.”
On Begin Road in Tel Aviv, demonstrators lit a fire in the middle of the road. The demonstration organizers claim that thousands of demonstrators protested in various locations nationwide.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz accused the architects of the reform of a conspiracy to take control of the democracy and to turn Israel into a theocracy. According to him, they see the secular public as “Messiah’s donkey”, despite this, he added, “We are the donkey that will kick them out.”
“We will demand equal rights like those that the ones who don’t serve in the military have. The law against service refusal won’t pass. We won’t be mercenaries for those who don’t serve,” stated Halutz. Halutz added that he is not accusing the entire religious community but rather its leaders. We repeated the claim that Netanyahu deserted the First Lebanon War.
In Netanya, a pro-government rally was held and attended by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and MKs Tali Gottlieb, Nissim Vaturi, Ariel Kallner, Sasson Gueta, and Avichay Buaron.
