Thousands march on Jerusalem to protest PM Netanyahu’s decisions to return to war & dismiss Shin Bet chief

Under the banner of a general protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated against the government over the past 24 hours.

Early on Wednesday morning, thousands gathered outside of the nation's capital and set out for a protest march toward Netanyahu’s residence, in the process, blocking Highway 1 and the main entrance to Jerusalem.

The main demands of the renewed protest movement against Netanyahu are to return to negotiations with Hamas in an effort to free the hostages, and to stop the dismissal of Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar.

עולים לירושלים להחזיר את החטופים ולהחזיר את המדינה להיות דמוקרטית ✊✊ pic.twitter.com/xiWS3Xqfp4

— Elgarat dani עד השיחרור המוחלט (@elgarat_dani) March 19, 2025

“It’s time to end this madness before we don’t have anyone to save, before we don’t have a country left,” protest leader Shikma Bressler told the crowd before the march began.

Writing on 𝕏 during the march, Bressler added: “Someone under investigation does not fire investigators. Dodgers don't send other people's children to fight. Jews do not abandon brothers in Gaza.”

נחקר לא מפטר חוקרים
משתמטים לא שולחים ילדים של אחרים להלחם
יהודים לא מפקירים אחים בעזה pic.twitter.com/WzBre5hLVM

— שקמה ברסלר Shikma Bressler (@ShikmaBressler) March 19, 2025

The march reached the government complex in Jerusalem, where a mass protest was planned to be held throughout the day.

“Come to Jerusalem,” said opposition leader Yair Lapid, calling on Israelis to join the protests.

“This government is tearing us apart, destroying us, it’s an illegitimate government. Take to the streets with us!”

Ahead of the protests in Jerusalem, a police spokesman stated: “We will not allow disorder and harm to the public and police. We call on all participants in today's protest to abide by the law and obey the police.”

The latest wave of protests began on Tuesday, with a smaller march toward Jerusalem and a large gathering in the evening that saw some 40,000 demonstrating at Habima Square in Tel Aviv.

The protest mainly focused on the decision to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and was led by “Protective Wall for Israel,” a group of 169 retired top officials from the military, police, Mossad and Shin Bet.

Former police commissioner Roni Alsheich told the crowd: “Public officials are expected to set aside their true purpose – the greater good – if it conflicts with the political agenda of government leaders. The police will only investigate cases that align with the government’s interests; otherwise, they risk being accused of fabricating charges or plotting conspiracies. Now, there’s a new twist: even the Shin Bet is barred from doing its job if it threatens the prime minister’s position, and a Shin Bet chief who acts with integrity can face dismissal.”

“The ‘peace for Netanyahu’ war has begun,” charged former Mossad head Tamir Pardo, in a reference to the first Lebanon War, or “Operation Peace for Galilee” in Hebrew.

“We won’t forgive and won’t forget the abandonment of the country’s defense,” Pardo continued. “You, the suspect Benjamin Netanyahu, pose a clear and present danger to the nation’s security.”

Several academic institutions also declared solidarity with the protests.

The senior academic staff at Tel Aviv University decided to suspend classes for two hours at noon on Wednesday. The Hebrew Gymnasium in Herzliya announced it would join the protests as part of its school schedule.

Several more universities and colleges across the country announced that their students would join the protests, including the deans of the Technion Institute in Haifa, who also declared a personal strike in protest against the government.

While the government initially planned to hold its vote over Bar’s dismissal on Wednesday, it is currently unknown when the vote will be held.