Israelis stage largest protest since war began to increase pressure on Netanyahu
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
APRIL 1, 20243:06 AM ET
By
The Associated Press
Members of the 'Brothers in Arms' reservist protest group wave Israeli flags during a demonstration in the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim, demanding equality in Israel's military service, in Jerusalem on Sunday, March 31, 2024.
Ohad Zwigenberg/AP
JERUSALEM — Tens of thousands of Israelis thronged central Jerusalem on Sunday in the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war in October. Protesters urged the government to reach a cease-fire deal to free dozens of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas militants and to hold early elections.
Israeli society was broadly united immediately after Oct. 7, when Hamas killed some 1,200 people during a cross-border attack and took 250 others hostage. Nearly six months of conflict have renewed divisions over the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though the country remains largely in favor of the war.
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Netanyahu has vowed to destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages home, yet those goals have been elusive. While Hamas has suffered heavy losses, it remains intact.
Roughly half the hostages in Gaza were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. But attempts by international mediators to bring home the remaining hostages have failed. Talks resumed on Sunday with no signs that a breakthrough was imminent.
Hostages' families believe time is running out, and they are getting more vocal about their displeasure with Netanyahu.
"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," said Boaz Atzili, whose cousin, Aviv Atzili and his wife, Liat, were kidnapped on Oct. 7. Liat was released but Aviv was killed, and his body is in Gaza. "Netanyahu is only working in his private interests."
People take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group outside of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 31, 2024.
Leo Correa/AP
Protesters have many grievances
Protesters blame Netanyahu for the failures of Oct. 7 and say the deep political divisions over his attempted judicial overhaul last year weakened Israel ahead of the attack. Some accuse him of damaging relations with the United States, Israel's most important ally.
Netanyahu is also facing a litany of corruption charges which are slowly making their way through the courts, and critics say his decisions appear to be focused on political survival over the national interest. Opinion polls show Netanyahu and his coalition trailing far behind their rivals if elections were held today.
LINK TO SEEDED ARTICLE: https://www.npr.org/2024/04/01/1241955407/israelis-gaza-protest-netanyahu
OFF-TOPIC COMMENTS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT WARNING.
Will Bibi fall?
There’s not the slightest doubt in my mind he will be out— it’s not a question of “if” but rather of “when”.
I feel the same way but the longer he is in the worse it's going to be for Israel.
gee, bibi should probably take it easy on blowing up any more aid workers and journalists...
I saw that report today, what a fuck up that is.
... on multiple levels. bibi was pissed that an aid group was feeding starving palestinian kids ...
Wouldn't be allegedly starving if Hamas hadn't started a war
Is Benny next in line? How much difference will it make if Benny takes the top spot? He's not as hardline as Bibi, but he's not a warm and fuzzy liberal from what I've read either.
From what I see of Bennie he is a bit more rational than Bibi and looks to have some backing of the people.
tsk, tsk, tsk... this is what happens when autocrats get into bed with religious wackos.
It doesn't look like it's going to be what Bibi expected.
Erdogan also got his ass kicked over the weekend. It's not been a good weekend for hard cases.
I saw that the Mayor of Istanbul won again by 10 points I believe it was.
The disaster today or yesterday when the IDF attacked an aid convoy killing seven from World Kitchen workers/volunteers is adding to their woes.
the details, if corroborated, are even more disturbing and damning...
Seems that they have been corroborated, devan.
bibi says that accidents happen during war. he's waiting on a shipment of 1800 american 2K lb bombs to be delivered from us. how many illegal settlements in the west bank are there now?