Mayhem in Tel Aviv: Israelis protesting judicial overhaul clash with police
Police use stun grenades against protesters, while Israel’s national security minister warns of ‘anarchist blockades’
Israel Police used stun grenades on Wednesday to disperse a group of protesters who blocked the main Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, and then reopened the road to travel.
In a statement, Protest organizers criticized the Israeli police for using forceful methods to try scatter to the protesters.
“The commissioner should fire those responsible for the failure today,” the statement read. “Throwing grenades and trampling protesters for democracy with horses is crossing the black line. Shame on the State of Israel.”
Protesters gathered nationwide as Israel’s legislative committee came together to vote on a second phase of judicial reforms, including the so-called override clause that grants a parliamentary majority the ability to overrule judgments by Israel’s High Court of Justice.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir ordered the opening of all major roads that had been closed.
“The blocking of central roads must not be allowed, and all of the anarchists’ blockades must be opened,” he said. “I am in favor of democratic protest, but we will not allow civil riots and we will not allow anarchists to block major roads.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid responded by saying, “The only anarchy is that of the most insane government in Israel’s history.”
Across the country, roads were blocked and protesters attempted to disrupt train travel at the Tel Aviv HaHagana Station.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
