Thousands have again demonstrated in many hotspots across the country - but the fact that only 27% of the public believe the current demonstrations are not violent should bother protesters • One match is enough to cause a dangerous fire that we all regret • Opinion
Protest in Caesarea, yesterday
Photo:
Michelle dot com
Crowds in Balfour, last night
Photo:
Oren Ben Hakon
Demonstration of the self-employed in Tel Aviv
Photo:
Gideon Markovich
A protest demonstration at the Goma junction in the Upper Galilee
Photo:
Eyal Margolin - Ginny
Also last night (Saturday) thousands in demonstrations held in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Caesarea and other centers against government policy. Meanwhile, the "Black Flags" organization also recruited thousands of demonstrators, who came to 300 intersections and bridges across the country to express their protest against the prime minister under the slogan "Bibi home."
The police in Jerusalem authorized the protest organizers outside Benjamin Netanyahu's residence to hold a procession, and announced the blocking of nearby streets. Paris Square was blocked to traffic, and hundreds of police officers were deployed in the area.
Photo: Adi Hashmonai
The question is whether we will again witness the violence of demonstrators or of police against demonstrators? The findings of a survey by the Brain Pool Institute published yesterday in Israel Today, according to which 52 percent of respondents believe that the demonstrations near the prime minister's house, in Rabin Square and elsewhere were very violent, should not let go of the protesters. The unequivocal message that emerges from public opinion polls is an absolute aversion to violence.
The fact that only 27 percent of respondents believe the demonstrations are balanced, must light a red light and enlighten the protesters. It should be clear that the right of Netanyahu's opponents to take to the main streets of the big cities and express their protest against the continuation of his tenure, and the right of the hundreds of thousands of fired who were left without a source of livelihood to shout. A civil protest is legitimate, but the voice of Netanyahu's supporters, which was heard at the polls in three election campaigns, is equally legitimate. In any case, the protest must be carried out without violence, incitement and threat of murder.
• Left-wing protest against Netanyahu: about 10,000 demonstrators in Jerusalem, thousands in other centers
• Protest ended in Tel Aviv, 4 arrested
Thousands in the "black flags" demonstration in Tel Aviv
Not for civil war
The top police, who according to the survey's 44 percent believe is too violent, must also learn lessons from it and order the overt and covert police to be patient and patient with the protesters. Police officers are not allowed to rush into physical force against protesters, and are only allowed to do so in extreme situations.
The deterioration to violence in demonstrations could, God forbid, lead the country into the abysses of dangerous civil war. Therefore all parties must take responsibility and understand that sometimes a match that ignites is enough to cause a dangerous fire that we will all regret, but then it may already be too late.