Protesters took to streets in Tel Aviv on Thursday night to demonstrate against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and call for the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Demonstrators carried large photos of hostages as well as signs with slogans, some in English and some in Hebrew.
Quick Read
- In Tel Aviv, demonstrators protested against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, demanding the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, showcasing photos of hostages and carrying signs in both English and Hebrew.
- Tens of thousands had previously gathered in Jerusalem, marking the largest anti-government protest since the conflict began in October, reflecting deepening divisions over Netanyahu’s leadership amidst broad support for the war.
- Netanyahu has argued against early elections, suggesting they would hinder progress in negotiations for the hostages’ release and expressing his commitment to defeating Hamas and securing the hostages’ safe return, though these objectives have not yet been achieved.
- Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protested a court ruling that threatens to end their exemptions from mandatory military service, displaying signs like “to jail, not to the army” and engaging in confrontations with the police.
- The Supreme Court’s decision to stop government subsidies for many ultra-Orthodox men who avoid military service has intensified public outrage and debates over the exemptions and financial support for seminary students, especially amidst the ongoing conflict and reported army manpower shortages.
The Associated Press has the story:
Israeli protesters demonstrate against Netanyahu, call for hostage release
Newslooks- TEL AVIV, Israel — (AP)
Protesters took to streets in Tel Aviv on Thursday night to demonstrate against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and call for the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Demonstrators carried large photos of hostages as well as signs with slogans, some in English and some in Hebrew.
At the beginning of the month, tens of thousands of Israelis thronged central Jerusalem in the largest anti-government protest since the country went to war in October. Nearly six months of conflict have renewed divisions over Netanyahu’s leadership, although the country remains largely in favor of the war.
Netanyahu says early elections would paralyze Israel for six to eight months and stall the hostage talks. He has vowed to destroy Hamas and bring all the hostages home, however those goals have been elusive.
ULTRA-ORTHODOX MEN PROTEST NEW LAW THAT COULD END THEIR MILITARY SERVICE EXEMPTIONS
JERUSALEM — Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men protested in Jerusalem on Thursday over a court ruling that could end their exemptions from mandatory service in the Israeli military.
Carrying signs that read “to jail, not to the army,” they rallied in front of Israel’s military enlistment office. There were scuffles between police and some of the protesters.
Israel’s Supreme Court last month ordered an end to government subsidies for many ultra-Orthodox men who do not serve in the army. The ruling could have far-reaching consequences for the government and the tens of thousands of religious men who refuse to take part in mandatory military service.
Most Jewish men are required to serve nearly three years in the military, followed by years of reserve duty. Jewish women serve two mandatory years.
The exemptions for ultra-Orthodox — coupled with government stipends many seminary students receive through age 26 — have infuriated much of the general public.
These longstanding tensions have only grown in the six months of war in Gaza. The ultra-Orthodox say integrating into the army will threaten their generations-old way of life. The army has said it is suffering from manpower shortages because of the war.
