Israel’s capital sees fresh wave of anti-gov’t protests & clashes with police after move to oust attorney general

Thousands of protesters streamed to the Israeli capital once again on Sunday, demonstrating against the recent decisions by the government to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and begin the dismissal process for Attorney General Gali Baharav Miara.

Clashes again broke out on Azza Street, where the police have created two rows of barricades to block protesters from approaching Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence.

At least three protesters were arrested, according to police.

Channel 12 reported that the police confiscated equipment brought by protesters to establish a permanent encampment, including tents, mattresses and chairs.

The “Free in Our Land” forum protested this measure and claimed, “The Jerusalem Municipality is actively working to suppress the protest.”

Police, border cops clash with protesters trying to break thru barricades on Azza st pic.twitter.com/3WxIDXPLgl

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Later on Sunday, several protesters attempted to break through the barricades and rush toward Netanyahu’s residence. In the ensuing scuffles, police officers were filmed shoving back protesters, while the police later reported that one officer was hit in the head by a protester.

The clashes did not result in serious injuries on either side.

Thousands demonstrated peacefully further up the road, waving Israeli flags while chanting slogans, blowing bullhorns, and holding up pictures of hostages.

The protest movement has long accused the government of abandoning the Israeli hostages by purposefully torpedoing negotiations with Hamas through its decision to return to fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Currently, the main thrust of the protests is focused on the danger posed to Israeli democracy by the government's move to dismiss two so-called "gatekeepers" – Bar and Baharav-Miara – who are tasked with limiting the government's authority in specific areas.

"After the interrogated Netanyahu tried to fire his interrogator, today the accused wants to fire his prosecutor. It's illegal, it's corrupt, it won't pass," opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on 𝕏.

"Netanyahu's push against state institutions will end in disaster," National Unity party leader Benny Gantz warned on Monday morning.

According to The Times of Israel, on Sunday, protesters sang a Hannukah song with the lyrics, “Though the night is cold and dark; In our soul, there lies a spark.”

Banners held by the protesters also included the slogan, “A suspect does not fire an investigator,” referring to the legal proceedings against Netanyahu, as well as against several of his aides, which are being prosecuted by Baharav-Miara and the Shin Bet.

Among the main speakers during the demonstration were former Shin Bet head Ami Ayalon and Knesset Member Yoav Segalovich (Yesh Atid party), who was the Israel Police head of the investigations before joining politics.

Former Supreme Court Justice Ayala Procaccia also spoke to the crowd.

She declared that Israel is “no longer a free democracy, but another regime, one that we do not know. A regime in which there is no rule of law and no true freedom, a regime that lacks human rights protections.”

In a joint statement, protest leaders said, “The biggest protest week in the past two years has proven that the public stands behind the Shin Bet chief, the Attorney General, and the Supreme Court justices. We call on all Israeli citizens, officials, and business leaders – come today and throughout the week to Jerusalem to back the gatekeepers.”