Tens of thousands of Israelis have been pouring into the streets of Jerusalem, marking the largest series of anti-government protests since a war with Gaza began in October. The demonstrators, a mix of society broadly united by the shared trauma of the recent conflict, are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the initiation of early elections.
Central to the protest movement are the families of the hostages. During a weeklong ceasefire in November, approximately half of the original 250 hostages were released. However, many remain in captivity, with negotiations seemingly stalled. “We believe that no hostages will come back with this government because they’re busy putting sticks in the wheels of negotiations for the hostages,” expressed Boaz Atzili, a relative of one of the hostages, painting a grim picture of the current administration’s efforts.
Netanyahu’s pledge to “destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages home” seems increasingly unattainable as Hamas continues to hold out. With the country still largely in support of the war efforts, the prime minister’s popularity has plummeted, and Netanyahu’s coalition is significantly trailing in opinion polls. Critics also accuse him of eroding Israel’s crucial relationship with the United States and prioritizing his political survival over national interests.
The Israeli leader, who faces a series of corruption charges, defended his position against calls for early elections in a nationally televised address, suggesting that such a move would paralyze the country and impede efforts to free the hostages. His current term, unless cut short by a coalition breakdown, is not due to end until the spring of 2026.
Adding to the complexity of Israel’s internal strife are ongoing debates over military conscription exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men and the potential economic implications of such policies as reported by the Bank of Israel. The conflict has also taken its toll on Israel’s economy, with a contraction of nearly 20 percent in the last quarter of 2023.
The demonstrations outside the Knesset, promising to continue for several days, coincide with Netanyahu’s repeated vow for a military ground offensive in Rafah, the densely populated southern Gaza city. Such a move is seen by many as an escalation that will only deepen the conflict and add to the existing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where a staggering toll of at least 32,782 Palestinians have been reported killed since the start of the war.
Relevant articles:
– Israelis stage largest protest against Netanyahu government since war began
– Thousands of Israelis join anti-government protests, Voice of America – VOA News, Mon, 01 Apr 2024 22:08:40 GMT
– Israeli rallies demand end of Netanyahu government, early elections and a hostage release deal, WSWS, Mon, 01 Apr 2024 19:41:13 GMT
– Tens of thousands of Israelis stage largest protest since war began as pressure on Netanyahu mounts, CBS News, Mon, 01 Apr 2024 14:39:30 GMT