Demonstrators against the withdrawal clause in Be'er Sheva, January 10, 2023 (Yenir Yagana)
Thousands of people are expected to demonstrate this evening (Saturday) against the government in Tel Aviv.
The protest is being held for the second week in a row, partly due to the plan to weaken the justice system that Justice Minister Yariv Levin wants to pass.
First, the demonstrators will gather in the Bhima square, and from there, marches are expected to take place that will pass through the main streets of the city, which the police will block to vehicular traffic.
In recent days, discussions were held in preparation for the protest between the police and Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, representatives of the protest organizers and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gabir. After them, the police claimed that the intelligence picture showed "a fear of disorder" in the protest. "The bad spirit of the commander is seeping down.
They create a realistic imagination that protesters will attack police officers in order to create a narrative or an excuse to beat them," the Chairman of the Movement for the Quality of Government Eliad Sharaga answered yesterday during a preliminary tour with the police.
With the approval of the police, streets in the city center will be closed to traffic starting at 18:00, one hour before the demonstration.
The blocked streets will be Dizengof-King George to the east, Dizengof-139 to the south and east, Dizengof-Sderot Hen to the east, Dizengoff-Even Gvirol to the east and north, King George-Ben Zion to the east, Sderot Ben Zion-Melchet towards the east, Ehad Ha'am-Rothschild towards the east, Hasmoneans-Rothschild towards the east, Ibn Gvirol-Marmurek towards the west and Rothschild-Bardichevsky towards the north.
Demonstration against the government in Bhima square.
Last week (Photo: Reuven Castro)
The drop-off points for buses will be Kaplan-Da Vinci for those coming from the east, the Cinematheque on Karlibach St. for those coming from the east-south, Ben Zion/King George for those coming from the west, Masrik Square for those coming from the north, Rothschild-Bezalel Yaffe for those coming from the south and Yehuda Halevi-Harabat.
The police instructed to wait for shuttles in parking lots only, such as Reading and Carmelit.
Hundreds of police officers were assigned to secure the protest and regulate traffic.
"The Commissioner of Police instructed on restraint, tolerance and containment of the forces during the protest, when first and foremost, the goal of the forces is to secure the event and maintain public order," the police said after approving the plan for the event. Along with this directive, the police are also preparing for a situation where the agreed outline is exceeded. Yesterday evening, an olive branch was recorded at the La Guardia interchange, not far from the place of the demonstration.
More in Walla!
Supreme Court President Hayut opposes Levin's reform: "a plan to crush the justice system"
To the full article
Traffic jam map in Tel Aviv
in stormy weather
Dozens of buses to the protest have already filled up.
Organizers are optimistic about the number of participants compared to last week, when there were several thousand.
However, the expected winter weather may hamper the desire for a show of strength.
In the evening it is expected to rain at times accompanied by thunderstorms along the coastal plain, and there is even a fear of flooding in the area.
This along with a temperature of about 14 degrees.
"We know it will be cold. I ask people to equip themselves with umbrellas and coats," Shraga added.
He, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and former head of the Mossad Tamir Pardo came as representatives of the organizers to the meeting with the police.
Together with the Movement for the Quality of Government, the protest is led by the organizations "Standing Together", "Crim Minister", "The Black Flags", "The Black Robes Protest" and other smaller organizations.
Many of them were also the ones who led the Balfour protest.
A demonstration against the government in Tel Aviv.
Last week (Photo: Reuven Castro)
More in Walla!
A sinkhole opened in Hod Hasharon - a car fell into it, there were no injuries
The battle for oil: the Iranians have already reached Australia
Can you get rid of cataracts?
Discover the most effective and safest method
The weather will probably not be an excuse for the politicians who have announced that they will show up in the square.
Labor leader Merav Michaeli, who also participated last time alongside most members of her party, called on the leaders of the opposition to join the protest. State camp leader Benny Gantz finally decided to attend as well.
"Raising the voice at this time is a first class civic duty," he explained.
RAM Chairman Mansour Abbas also said he was considering participating.
On the other hand, opposition leader Yair Lapid avoided this and his office claimed yesterday that he does not plan to come. However, it is not impossible that he will choose otherwise in view of the presence of the heads of the other parties.
Either way, the politicians will not get to speak on the stage of the protest, trying to keep it non-partisan.
Those who will speak will be former Supreme Court judge Ayala Prokcha, former Minister of Justice Tzipi Livni, head of the Bar Association Avi Himi and the first lieutenant in the IDF, Ora Peled Nakash. Another demonstration will be held at the same time in front of the President's House in Jerusalem.
news
News in Israel
Events in Israel
Tags
demonstrations
Tel Aviv Jaffa
