WORLD

Unrest Surges in Israel: Videos and Photos


Police sprayed protesters with water cannons on a highway in Tel Aviv.

Reuters

Civil unrest broke out in Israel’s major cities as protesters opposed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to overhaul the country’s judicial system. Thousands of protesters blocked a major highway and lit bonfires in Tel Aviv and clashed with police in Jerusalem after Mr. Netanyahu fired his defense minister for criticizing the overhaul.

The protests resumed on Monday, raising the potential for clashes between pro- and anti-government groups. Universities shuttered in protest, flights were halted and union leaders announced a general strike.


Tel Aviv: Protesters block highway and clash with police


Thousands of protesters blocked Ayalon highway, the main highway in Tel Aviv, for several hours overnight, lighting bonfires along the road until the early hours of Monday morning.


Yehuda Bergstein/EPA, via Shutterstock

Israeli police cleared the highway overnight, but protesters blocked it again on Monday as widespread protests continued.



Amit Elkayam for The New York Times

Crowds throughout the country grew during the day, including around Tel Aviv’s Hashalom station, a center of the protests.

Pro-government groups called for counterdemonstrations on Monday evening around the station, threatening clashes between pro- and anti-government groups.



Amit Elkayam for The New York Times

Overnight, protesters waved Israeli flags, chanting “democracy” and “shame.”

For weeks, protesters have taken to the streets to protest the proposed changes that would effectively allow the government to choose the judges of the Supreme Court.

Protestors clashed with police as law enforcement attempted to clear the road early Monday morning.



Ahmad Gharabli/Agence France-Presse


Jerusalem: Protesters break through barriers near Mr. Netanyahu’s home


In Jerusalem, protesters gathered outside Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, and on Sunday night they broke through police barriers near Mr. Netanyahu’s private residence.

Police used water cannons and horses to push protesters back. Dozens of protesters were arrested or detained on Sunday night and early Monday throughout the country.

Some slept outside the Knesset, resuming protests on Monday. Pro-government groups also called for counterdemonstrations outside the Knesset on Monday evening, heightening fears of violence between the groups.



Avishag Shaar-Yashuv for The New York Times

Protesters scuffled with police outside the parliament as the rally grew on Monday. Right-wing groups announced plans to gather outside the parliament later in the evening, threatening further escalation.



Ariel Schalit/Associated Press

Source link

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button

Adblock Detected

Please turn off the ad blocker & refresh this page again to access the content.