Protesters against the government’s judicial reform plan blocked highways and train service on Wednesday as part of what they dubbed a “National Disruption Day.” The protests began early in the morning when members of “Brothers in Arms” and other protesters blocked Highway 1 in the Sha’ar HaGai area with barbed wire, blocking the entrance to Jerusalem. About an hour later, the police dispersed the protesters and Highway 1 was opened to traffic. However, protesters continued to try to block highways throughout Israel and at about noon, clashes between the police and protesters took place as hundreds of protesters broke through police barriers in Tel Aviv and tried to stop traffic on the Ayalon Highway at the Shalom Interchange. Protesters also blocked Derech Begin in Tel Aviv. The police threw stun grenades at the crowd and used horses in an effort to disperse the protesters. Later in the afternoon, the police began using water cannons against the crowd in an effort to clear the protesters blocking major roads in Tel Aviv. The police arrested at least 39 protesters, mainly in the Tel Aviv area, for disturbing public order and disobeying police orders. Some of the protesters were violent toward the police, throwing bottles and other objects at officers and smashing the windshield of a police car. At least one protester was injured by a stun grenade: כביש 1, הכביש המרכזי במדינה – נחסם בגדרות תיל על ידי חבורת פריבילגים, באירוע שהיה ידוע מראש. רוצים לנחש איפה המשטרה? רמז: יצהר, תפוח, אביתר. pic.twitter.com/L5tKIMZ22n — מאיר ליוש Meir Layosh (@MeirLayosh) March 1, 2023 Protesters in Tel Aviv blocked the entrances to trains at the HaHaganah Station to prevent passengers from boarding and prevent the trains from running. Like all previous protests, some of the participants waved Palestinian flags, as seen below in a protest in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning. A statement published on Tuesday by the anti-judicial organizations said: “In the face of a dangerous coup d’état – fierce protest! Starting in the morning, the National Disruption Day will take place, as part of the fight against the regime coup. Throughout the day, there will be demonstrations, convoys and protest marches in cities, on bridges and at intersections. The day will open with parent and child marches in the morning and end with demonstrations in Tel Aviv and in front of the Prime Minister’s residence on Aza Street in Jerusalem.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir held a situational assessment on Tuesday evening with the Police Commissioner, Jerusalem District Commander and Tel Aviv District Deputy Commander and instructed the police not to allow the blocking of main highways. “I am in favor of a democratic protest but we will not allow civil riots and won’t allow anarchists to block major thoroughfares,” Ben-Gvir said. “The daily life of Israeli citizens must be maintained. I have instructed Israel Police to open all roads that are blocked.” Earlier, Israel Police announced that it “considers the right to protest as a cornerstone in a democratic country and allows all citizens to protest while adhering to the framework of law and public order. Israel Police will operate with zero tolerance for disturbances, damage to property and symbols of government and will not allow the blocking of traffic routes that are not approved by the police.” (YWN Israel Desk – […]
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