ISRAELIS STAGE ‘DAY OF RESISTANCE’ AGAINST NETANYAHU (VIDEO)

Thu 09 March 2023:

On Thursday, protesters blocked the road to one of the main terminals of Israel’s central international airport, escalating a nationwide movement against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plans to weaken the country’s judicial system.

People walking towards Terminal 3 with suitcases at Ben Gurion Airport due to a blocked road, as scenes of a “Day of Disruption” emerged.

The protest at Ben Gurion Airport came hours before Netanyahu flew to Rome to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

It also took place the day US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Israel for meetings with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Austin was originally due to come to Israel on Wednesday but delayed his arrival by a day at the request of Israeli officials concerned about the protests, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

The location of his meeting was also changed because of the protests, Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryde said.

Israeli television also showed a separate protest in Tel Aviv, which appeared to have thousands of participants waving Israeli flags.

Demonstrators chanted “democracy,” “shame” and “where were you in Huwara?” at police, a reference to a West Bank Palestinian village that was the target of a violent riot by Jewish settlers nearly two weeks ago.

The demonstration brought traffic to a standstill on the highway, before police on horseback succeeded in pushing protesters off the highway, clearing it. Demonstrators dispersed off the highway but remain in the area.

Some protesters handed out roses to police, or placed them on police cars, TV pictures showed. As in previous protests, many of the demonstrators carried Israeli flags, while a few Pride flags were also in evidence.

Netanyahu, who took office in late December after a protracted political stalemate, and his allies say the measures aim to rein in a court that has overstepped its authority. Critics say the overhaul will upset the country’s delicate system of checks and balances and slide Israel toward authoritarianism.

Critics also say Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, is driven by personal grievances and that he could find an escape route from the charges through the overhaul. Netanyahu denies wrongdoing, and says the legal changes have nothing to do with his trial.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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