Thousands of Israelis staged a spontaneous protest on Wednesday night after the resignation of Tel Aviv’s police chief, who refused police violence. At a press conference, he claimed to have been removed from his post for ” political considerations “.
With our correspondent in Tel-Aviv, Sharon Aronowicz
“ Ben Gvir terrorist chant the demonstrators.
This night in Tel Aviv, the Minister of National Security – Itamar Ben Gvir – stirs up the anger of the street: he judged the management of the demonstrations by the chief of police, Amichai Eshed, not severe enough. The former commander should be transferred to a less important post. Itamar Ben Gvir had already tried to transfer the head of the police of Tel Aviv last March: the sanction had been suspended by the Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.
“ I feel like an arsonist has been given all the power to do whatever he wants against those who disagree with him. And I’m very afraid of this power », confides a demonstrator.
As soon as Assaf, 51, learned of the Tel Aviv police chief’s departure, he did not hesitate for a second to join the demonstration. “ He refused to follow Ben Gvir’s orders and now he finds himself outside. We came to demonstrate because this kind of thing is precisely what happens in a dictatorship “, he assures.
Anger still intense
After more than six months of protest against the judicial reform considered anti-democratic, the anger among the population is still strong. Thousands of tireless protesters block Tel Aviv’s main highway.
” Here is a people who have decided to take to the streets and defend the country in the face of this situation, we are fighting with the conviction that we can build a democratic country, united, for all “Abounds Assaf.
Water cannons, mounted police… For several hours, the police tried to disperse the protesters. Arrests are increasing: in total, about fifteen people are detained in Tel Aviv. After six hours of blockage, the highway is finally evacuated. The Israelis end up dispersing, still singing. They will meet next Saturday night to continue the fight.
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