Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters have rallied in Tel Aviv and Haifa with smaller gatherings taking place nationwide, in addition to several thousands more in Herzliya, Karkur, Kfar Saba, Caesarea, and Ra’anana, as reported by The Times of Israel.
In Caesarea, protesters were demanding new elections and called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign, while police had detained at least one person close to Netanyahu’s private residence.
Around 300 people attended a rally at Sha’ar Hanegev Junction near Sderot. Unlike most other rallies on Saturday, the one in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council is described as nonpartisan by its organizers.
The rally is a joint event by residents of Sderot — a stronghold of Netanyahu’s Likud party — and the Regional Councils of Sha’ar Hanegev and Eshkol, which have many kibbutzim and moshavim with predominantly left-wing or centrist electorates.
Five protesters were hit by a car and injured in Tel Aviv a short while ago, the police say in a short statement, and are receiving medical treatment.
The driver hit the five protesters and kept driving until the police successfully stopped the vehicle and arrested the suspect.
Two of the injured are in mild condition and the third was moderately injured, the police add.
Demand for General Strike
Representatives of the opposition movement against Netanyahu have urged the head of the labor union to declare a general strike, according to Al Jazeera’s correspondent.
The correspondent added that protesters have demanded the “State Camp” party – led by Benny Gantz – to withdraw from the emergency cabinet.
Clashes also occurred between protesters in Tel Aviv in front of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, where thousands of Israelis are demonstrating to demand the isolation of the current Prime Minister and an speedy prisoner exchange deal.
