Tens of thousands demonstrate across Israel, opposition leader Lapid threatens ‘tax revolt’ against gov’t

Several tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated against the government across the country on Saturday evening, demanding the reinstatement of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, an end to the fighting in Gaza, and a return to hostage deal negotiations.

Large demonstrations were held in Jerusalem, Haifa, and several other cities across the nation. The central protest was held in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square, where several leaders of the opposition parties gave speeches.

A screen in the square displayed the message, “Stopping the dictatorship mania,” while protesters reportedly chanted, “Netanyahu is an abandoner, Netanyahu isn’t competent!”

Opposition leader and former prime minister, Yair Lapid, declared that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “doing everything to start a civil war here, Netanyahu is openly pushing for it.”

Should the government choose to defy the High Court order against the dismissal of Bar, Lapid called for extreme measures in response.

“The economy needs to strike, the Knesset needs to strike, the courts need to strike, the local authorities need to strike, not only the universities need to strike, but also the schools. If we can organize a tax revolt, we will organize a tax revolt. We will not be accomplices in the destruction of democracy,” he said.

הממשלה הזו עושה הכל כדי שתתחיל פה מלחמת אחים, נתניהו דוחף לזה בגלוי. אנחנו לא ניתן לזה לקרות. נלחם על המדינה, אבל לא ניתן להם להרוס את המדינה.

הם משתמשים במילה "אחדות" כדי להשתיק אותנו. זה לא יעבוד להם. שתיקה מול ממשלה הרסנית היא לא אחדות.

בכל פעם שהממשלה תחצה את הקווים… pic.twitter.com/EFIxQCRKkU

— יאיר לפיד - Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) March 22, 2025

“We will not let it happen. We will fight for the country, but we will not let them destroy the country. They use the word ‘unity’ to silence us. It will not work for them. Silence in the face of a destructive government is not unity,” Lapid continued.

“If the October 7 government decides not to obey the court’s ruling, it will turn itself that day, that moment, into a criminal government.”

Netanyahu and several other coalition members have said that a court ruling annulling the dismissal of Bar would itself be illegal and hinted they could defy such an order.

“If that happens, the entire country must stop. The only system that is not allowed to stop is the security system. We will oppose any kind of refusal, but apart from that – everything,” Lapid vowed.

רבבות אוהבי ישראל יצאו להגן על המדינה הערב. גוש אחד ביחד ננצח 🇮🇱

צילום: א.א צילומי אוויר pic.twitter.com/X5kn6AXw0u

— Yair Golan - יאיר גולן (@YairGolan1) March 22, 2025

Yair Golan, chairman of the far-left 'The Democrats' party, for his part, threatened a nationwide general strike if the government defied the High Court.

“The democratic State of Israel will not fall! The Jewish, democratic, Zionist and liberal State of Israel, will not fall,” Golan said in his speech.

“From here, we declare that we are embarking on a campaign to save Israel. From here we announce that we are stopping the country. There is no way back from here. It's all or nothing. We disrupt. We strike. We are stopping - the economy, the ports, the transportation, the schools, the academy, the businesses, the streets. We are stopping the country - to save it.”

Golan, whose party according to some polls is currently the largest force in the opposition, also called on the other opposition leaders to unite.

“This is not the time for petty politics. This is not the time for personal considerations. It is time to establish a single democratic front – powerful, stable, determined. A front that will win. A front that will be the backbone of the new Israel. A Zionist, security, democratic and liberal front - with values ​​of steel,” Golan said.

Following the central protest at Habima Square, several former hostages and hostage families took to the stage at nearby Hostages Square, including the parents of kidnapped soldier Omer Neutra.

“Since October 7, we have been engaged in activity in the American arena, in mobilizing the government for the return of the kidnapped. The vast majority, here in Israel and in the US, see the urgency of returning all the kidnapped, but the prime minister has other priorities,” they charged.

“This week, he fired the head of the Shin Bet, claiming that he had lost trust in him – but the reality is that most of the people have lost trust in this government, do not believe in the justice of its path, do not believe in its intentions and do not believe in its capabilities. And the people cannot be fired!”

Former hostage Doron Steinbrecher criticized the government and those supporting the return to fighting in Gaza, citing the danger it poses to the remaining hostages.

“I have the fear that they won't come home. I have fear for entire families, I have pain for entire families. I have fear for the kidnapped ones there. I have anger for those who think it's okay to go back to fighting,” she said.

“I dreamed of standing here and shouting, ‘Bring everyone home, now!’ And no, I don't want to make the dream come true. I wasn't supposed to make it come true. Everyone, they just have to be here now. Everyone, in one fell swoop. Now!”