Following the 7 October attacks by Hamas, which prompted shock and national unity, anti-government sentiments resurface as thousands take to the streets of Israel.
In Jerusalem, protesters blocking the major north-south highway, Begin Boulevard, faced dispersal tactics from police, including the use of skunk water fired from water cannons.
Protesters voiced demands for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation, alongside calls for immediate action to secure the release of approximately 130 Israeli hostages in Gaza, some feared dead.
Katia Amorza, whose son serves in the Israeli army in Gaza, expressed her frustration, stating, “Since eight this morning, I’m here.
And now I’m telling Netanyahu that I would be glad to pay one-way ticket, first class, for him to go out and not come back anymore.”
Rabbi Yehudah Glick, a supporter of Jewish prayer in Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, cautioned against vilifying Netanyahu, stressing that Hamas, not the Prime Minister, is the true adversary.
Critics argue that Netanyahu’s coalition, which relies on ultranationalist Jewish parties, undermines democracy and exacerbates tensions.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party, part of Netanyahu’s coalition, advocates for military pressure on Hamas to secure hostage release, rejecting the notion of easy solutions.
Netanyahu’s leadership once trusted for security, faces scrutiny following security lapses during the October attacks, with many holding him accountable for the devastating consequences.
The Prime Minister’s staunch opposition to Palestinian statehood and skepticism towards international peace efforts draw criticism both domestically and abroad.
Retired Brigadier General David Agmon, a former aide to Netanyahu, labeled him a “danger to Israel,” citing indecision, dependency, and dishonesty.
Despite mounting pressure and protests, Netanyahu remains determined, rejecting calls for early elections and pledging further action against Hamas.
While the Israeli populace is united in the goal of dismantling Hamas, dissatisfaction with Netanyahu’s handling of the conflict intensifies, posing significant challenges to his political future.
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