Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets, calling for a new ceasefire in Gaza and protesting against what they see as an attack on democracy by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition. The protests, which began after Netanyahu’s decision to shatter a two-month-old truce in Gaza with lethal airstrikes, have turned violent in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with police making at least 12 arrests.
Protesters are demanding that the government end the war for political reasons and focus on releasing the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. They argue that Netanyahu’s actions have eroded trust in the government and its handling of national security issues.
Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Ronen Bar, the head of the internal security agency, has also fueled the protests. Critics say this move was a power grab and an attempt to silence dissenting voices within his coalition.
Protesters, including former senior naval officer Ora Nakash Peled, are calling for accountability from Netanyahu and his government, saying that the current situation is “a war of survival” for democracy in Israel. The movement has gained momentum, with more protests expected in the coming days.
Experts point to several concerns, including the government’s alleged breaches of national security, corruption allegations against Netanyahu, and reforms aimed at introducing more political appointees to judicial appointments committees. These issues have sparked fears that Netanyahu is centralizing power and undermining checks on his authority.
The protests are not necessarily anti-war, but rather focused on the hostages’ plight and a lack of trust in the government’s handling of national security issues. Despite this, opinion polls suggest Netanyahu would likely lose an election if one were held now, but he may still defy the protests and ignore calls for new polls.
Netanyahu faces several challenges, including a potential jail sentence from his ongoing corruption trial and the return of Itamar Ben-Gvir to the government after walking out over the ceasefire deal. However, analysts say that Netanyahu’s strong coalition and homogeneous governing structure make it difficult to see him falling apart anytime soon.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/20/thousands-protest-in-israel-over-attack-on-democracy-by-netanyahu