TEL AVIV - Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, three days before Israel votes in a general election on Tuesday, October 27, AFP reported. The rally was organised by the October Council, an organisation formed by families of those killed or taken hostage in the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack, which is pressing for an investigation into the security lapses that allowed the assault to happen.
Source: AFP, Oct 25-26, via The News
An AFP reporter saw thousands marching from Rabin Square towards Hostages Square, a focal point of previous protests demanding the release of people held captive in Gaza. According to Israeli media, the protest drew leaders of the four main opposition parties, including former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, a key challenger to Netanyahu, who was greeted warmly by the crowd. The October Council said ahead of the demonstration: "Three days before the election, we will hold the culminating event marking three years of struggle to uncover the truth, demand accountability, and establish a state commission of inquiry."
Source: AFP, via The News
What protesters said
"Whoever has been leading us for the past four years has done such a terrible job," Hadas Feuershtein, 68, told AFP shortly before the rally began, referring to Netanyahu's government, which took office in late 2022. "Israel has never been in a situation as it is now," she added. Demonstrator Tzofnat Mor said October 7 had exposed serious failures: "I think October 7th proved to all of us that he failed, and the last four years have only deteriorated our situation socially, security-wise, diplomatically and enough is enough - it's time for a change," Mor said, in separate reporting of the same rally. Another protester, Eli Blair, said: "The era of Bibi, King of Israel, is over. The people of Israel have other priorities. They want to turn over a new leaf."
Source: Viory, Oct 26, via The Other Side
Ahead of the demonstration, the October Council had alerted law enforcement to possible "provocations" by pro-government agitators, AFP reported. Israeli police said on Saturday evening that they had arrested a suspect for assaulting the security team of a public figure in Tel Aviv. Israeli media identified the target as former prime minister and opposition leader Naftali Bennett.
Source: AFP, via The News
The inquiry dispute and 'bbCoin'
Netanyahu's government has refused to establish an independent state commission of inquiry, of the kind Israel has commonly set up to investigate major national failures, and has instead proposed a political commission whose members would be appointed equally by governing coalition and opposition lawmakers, AFP reported. Opposition leaders have said they would boycott a commission appointed by politicians. The Hamas-led assault killed about 1,200 people in Israel and saw approximately 250 others taken hostage, according to Israeli figures cited in the Viory reporting.
Source: Viory, Oct 26
The rally also heard criticism of Netanyahu's suggestion on Friday that Israel might need to develop an alternative digital economy to counter growing international isolation, and that multibillion-dollar arms packages from the United States "won't keep coming". Eisenkot sarcastically dubbed the proposed parallel digital currency "bbCoin", using a common nickname for Netanyahu, Bibi, AFP reported. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of warning Israelis they could face severe economic hardship if he won another term. Eisenkot and Bennett were expected to hold separate final meetings with voters in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening.
Source: AFP, via The News