Israel: Several anti-government protesters arrested after clashing with police on ‘day of disruption’
Israel anti-government protests
Several anti-government protesters were arrested after they clashed with the police on Monday (May 20) as demonstrators held a “day of disruption” protest to mark the beginning of the Israeli Parliament’s summer assembly amid the ongoing Gaza war.
Key highway blocked
On Monday morning protesters attempted to block traffic on the main highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, reported the Times of Israel, ahead of the main rally against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government which was supposed to take place outside the Knesset in the afternoon.
The protestsers calledfor the Netanyahu-led government to resign and hold an early election after it failed to bring the hostages that Hamas took from Israel after the attack on October 7.
Tens of thousands of people from Israel’s north and south, who have been displaced due to the attacks by Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant groupand Hamas, also took part in the protest.
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The demonstrators also rallied against the Haredi conscription legislation which is aimed at regulating the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men into the military.
At least 13 protesters arrested
One of the many protest groups participating in the demonstration on Monday, Brothers in Arms, said at least 13 of its members had been detained following an altercation with the police
According to the Times of Israel, the arrests came after the activists attempted to block traffic.
Police said the demonstrators were detained as they were supposedly planning to set vehicles on fire to create a long-lasting shutdown of the main road.
The group later took to X and denied the allegations and accused the police of lying and carrying out arrests without evidence. “The Israel Police has become an executive political tool of an extremist government,” said the group.
It added, “We will continue with a determined and nonviolent protest to return the mandate to the people. We call on the public to join us until the Knesset is dissolved.”
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According to Channel 12 news, hundreds of police officers were deployed outside the Israeli parliament.
March to Netanyahu’s house
There was also an unauthorised march to Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, on Monday evening, which strayed off course after protesters, who were reportedly split into multiple directions, were hit with the putrid Skunk liquid, a chemical compound designed to disperse crowds, by the police.
(With inputs from agencies)