Thousands of Israelis protest against Netanyahu, two meters apart
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Jerusalem (CNN)The square in the heart of Tel Aviv was measured and carefully marked off. Every two meters, an X designated a spot where someone could stand under Israel's social distancing guidelines. Protest organizers marked 2,800 spots for protesters to stand Sunday evening. In the end, organizers say twice as many people showed up to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , with many people standing on the surrounding streets.
The event made for a dramatic picture of a protest in the time of coronavirus . Protesters held up Israeli flags and plain black flags to symbolize what they see as Netanyahu's attacks against the country's democratic systems . Wearing masks under the latest health guidelines, one protester held up a sign that said, "I will not be quiet because my country has changed its face." Spaced out evenly across the open space, the protest made Rabin Square appear full, even though it can hold tens of thousands of people.
This week, Israel began to ease the social restrictions in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus. But even under the strictest limitations, protests were still allowed as long as they abided by the government's regulations.
Israelis protest at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv on Sunday.
"They said that there will be an exponential growth in the number of people with corona(virus)," said organizer Shikma Schwarzmann, "but the only thing you really see growing exponentially is the number of people who are willing to stand up and protect our nation and our democracy."
Speaking at the protest, Member of Parliament Yair Lapid criticized Netanyahu and Parliament Speaker Benny Gantz, until recently Lapid's political partner in the Blue and White party. Gantz broke with Lapid nearly a month ago when he agreed to serve under Netanyahu, going back on a promise that had been central to the party's campaign. The move fractured Blue and White, with Lapid taking his faction into the opposition as Gantz pursued a unity government with Netanyahu.
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Pretty cool.