Massive demonstrations took place in Tel Aviv on Saturday, protesting against the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a scene reflecting escalating anger, following what the protesters describe as rampant racism, rising incitement, and failure of the political leadership since October 7, 2023.
The scenes - broadcasted by Al Jazeera Live - showed the participation of thousands of demonstrators who raised slogans condemning the government and ministers in the ruling coalition, demanding the departure of Netanyahu and the exclusion of hardline ministers, foremost among them the Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir and the Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, in addition to stopping what they consider the undermining of the judiciary and media systems.
Government of Ruin
One of the participants in the demonstrations stated that a pregnant woman was assaulted in Jaffa, and that Arab drivers are harassed on an almost daily basis, simply because they are Arabs, considering that what is happening is not a coincidence nor transient violence, but a direct result of the transfer of Kahane's ideology (referring to Meir Kahane, founder of the Kach movement) from the margins to the center of power.
She added that the political leadership does not condemn the attacks on Arabs nor the daily murder crimes against Arab citizens, simply because it is not bothered by what is happening, describing the government as a "government of ruin" that fueled the discourse of incitement and allowed the spread of hatred in the streets.
During the protests, the Israeli activist Itai Steinitz accused the current government of granting "full legitimacy to hate and racism," holding it responsible for the repeated attacks on Arab citizens within Israel.
Israel Abandoned Its People
Steinitz referred to the incident of a 20-year-old Arab woman being shot dead near a store in Kfar Gat, confirming that the incident happened close in time and place to him personally, a testimony he said reflects the extent of fear lived by citizens, regardless of their affiliations.
In a direct criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu's government's performance since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, the Israeli activist said that Israel has abandoned its citizens, and soldiers, and the detainees in Gaza, pointing out that more than two thousand civilians and soldiers have died since that date in a war that "lasted long only for political reasons," according to him.
He called for a "courageous and genuine" Arab-Jewish partnership, which goes beyond silent coexistence to a partnership based on equality, candor, and responsibility, asserting that "diversity is not a weakness but a source of strength."
He also made a direct appeal to the Arab community inside Israel, considering this moment as a time to raise their voices, and to "the democratic Jewish street," urging it to not just be spectators, and to pressure the political leadership for a change of course.
Unlawful Interference
Steinitz attacked the National Security Ministry's intervention in the police operations, considering it "a blatant interference that violates the law," calling for the exclusion of Ben Gvir from his position, and ensuring that no presidential pardon is issued for Netanyahu.
He also criticized the government's attack on the Supreme Court, accusing it of bias, while saying that the current leadership "funded Hamas and facilitated its strengthening," considering Netanyahu's attempt to control the investigative committee on the events of October 7, 2023, as "the peak of political madness."
In introducing himself, Steinitz said he was a reserve fighter who served about 300 days in the Eighth Battalion since the outbreak of the war, stating that the war changed him forever, and left him suffering from severe psychological disorders, adding that the government showed no concern for the consequences of the war on soldiers who served in it.
He concluded his speech by stressing that the current government is beginning to feel its end, emphasizing that the protests will continue until Netanyahu's final departure, and the establishment of Israel as a "democratic state" that serves everyone equally.
