Protesters opposed to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gathered in the evening of Saturday October 3 in Israel, despite a strengthening of measures related to the new coronavirus, including one limiting demonstrations.
Read also: Israelis from all walks of life join forces to demand Netanyahu's departure
Most of the protesters appeared to wear health masks, but police said in a statement that they violated social distancing rules as well as the limit on the number of protesters.
The police did not give a number of offenders.
The Israeli parliament on Wednesday, September 30 approved a law restricting gatherings during the lockdown decreed in the country due to the new coronavirus, which critics say aims to silence protests against Benjamin Netanyahu.
Since July, anti-Netanyahu demonstrators have been meeting every week to criticize his economic and health management of the pandemic but also to denounce “
corruption
” and call for “
change
”.
Resignation of the Minister of Tourism
On Friday, October 2, Tourism Minister Asaf Zamir, of the centrist “
Bleu-Blanc
” party, left the government coalition of Benjamin Netanyahu because of the new restrictions.
Announcing his decision on Twitter, he said the prime minister was more worried about his corruption trial and protests against him than about the fight against the epidemic.
"
Bleu-Blanc
"
leader
Benny Gantz replaced Asaf Zamir with Orit Farkash Hacohen, and the coalition, the result of an agreement between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, did not immediately appear to be in danger.
Benny Gantz said he respected Asaf Zamir's decision.
"
We have joined the government to fight the coronavirus, not to limit democracy,
" he said in a statement.
We joined the government to fight the coronavirus, not to limit democracy
Benny Gantz
The law passed Wednesday prohibits protesters from moving more than a mile from their homes, but the left-wing
Haaretz
daily
reported on Friday that apps had appeared on social media to provide internet users with the location of the most protest. close to home.
The police checked the identity cards of demonstrators this Saturday evening.
"
The police issue fines and, where necessary, disperse gatherings and arrest those who disturb public order
," she said in a statement.
She did not indicate the number of arrests but claimed that "
hundreds
" of fines had been distributed.
According to local media, nearly 200 people demonstrated outside Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem.
Other protests took place in several cities.
With more than 260,000 confirmed cases and more than 1,600 deaths in a population of nine million, Israel is the country with the highest weekly infection rate in the world.