Anti-government rallies in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv kick off after police back protesters
Police urged the Supreme Court to dismiss petitions against rallies, citing rights issues
Anti-government protests set to take place in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Thursday evening will go ahead as scheduled hours after police asked Israel Supreme Court not to block the demonstrations.
Petitions submitted to the court by people living near the Prime Minister's official residence in Jerusalem had requested that the demonstrations be moved away from Balfour Street.
Residents of Jerusalem neighborhoods of Rehavia and Talbieh are outraged over the pandemonium caused by massive rallies, which have seen thousands of people gather in front of the official residence on Balfour Street over the past several weeks.
But police urged the court earlier in the day to reject the complaints, arguing that protests in Israel are fundamental to citizens' ability to exercise freedom of speech and the right to assembly.
“There is no place for the request of the petitioners to move the demonstrations elsewhere,” the police response said.
The demonstration in Jerusalem will begin at 7:30 p.m. in front of the Prime Minister's residence on Balfour Street, while the one in Tel Aviv will take place in front of the apartment of the Public Security Minister, Amir Ohana, in the Bitzaron district at 6:30 p.m.
Protesters have for weeks denounced the government's handling of the resurgent coronavirus pandemic and the country's crumbling economy, which has left more than 850,000 unemployed.
The demonstrators have also demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's immediate resignation, citing his current legal woes, arguing that a premier facing trial for bribery, fraud, and breach of public trust should not lead the country.
Netanyahu vehemently denies all allegations of wrongdoing.
Large-scale protests took place in several cities across the country, including Jerusalem last Saturday, where 15,000 people expressed their anger as Israel is currently experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis.