Thousands of people protest against Netanyahu's government in Jerusalem
Thousands of people protested against Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Jerusalem, Israel.
There have also been protests against the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from compulsory military service.
Several protest organizations staged a demonstration in front of Israel's parliament, the Knesset, yesterday. Among them are some organizations leading mass protests in Israel in 2023.
Yesterday's protest called for holding elections to form a new government.
Most Israeli citizens are required by law to join the military for a specified period of time. The protest demanded a more equitable distribution of this burden.
On October 7, the Palestinian independence organization Hamas attacked Israel. Since that day, Israel has started a military operation in the Gaza Strip. About 600 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the conflict since October 7. It was the highest casualty in the Israeli military in years.
Israel's N12 News reports that this is the largest protest in Israel since the start of the Gaza war.
Israeli media outlets Haaretz and Wynet reported that thousands of people gathered to take part in the protest.
About 1,200 people were killed in an attack by Hamas on October 7 in Israel. More than 250 persons were taken hostage. After the attack, questions about Israel's security system were raised. The Netanyahu-led government has come under heavy criticism.
Nurit Robinson, a 74-year-old Israeli who took part in the protest, said, "This government has completely failed." They will lead the Israelites into the abyss.
Demonstrators waved Israeli flags and chanted, "Hold elections now."
At a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said he was confident of reaching a solution.
Netanyahu also said that holding elections at this stage of the war, when Israel is so close to victory, would paralyze the country for months.
Protests also took place in Tel Aviv yesterday. Families of some of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza blocked a main road in Tel Aviv to protest. Others also took part in this protest. They protested the Netanyahu government's failure to return the hostages.
