The demonstrators demanded that Netanyahu leave and held him responsible for the events of October 7 (Getty)

Occupied Jerusalem -

With the expansion of protests in the Israeli street against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, and the demand for the return of Israeli detainees held by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza, which is in harmony with the voices that are rising and demanding the overthrow of the right-wing government and the holding of early elections, the features of a violent discourse have been formed in Israeli society, which was reflected in the demonstration in Jerusalem. Against Netanyahu, bypassing police barriers and storming his house.

This scene, which Shin Bet head Ronen Bar warned against repeating, carries with it implications for the future of the protests, and the controversial messages and contents they carry, indicating the inevitability of expanding the circle of clashes and confrontation with the Israeli police, as well as to developments that may lead to confrontation and acts of violence between The Israelis themselves, amid divisions between supporters and opponents of the policies of the Netanyahu government regarding everything related to the war on Gaza.

The phenomenon of unbridled violence by the Israeli police against Jewish demonstrators gained unprecedented momentum during the term of Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, who during the war on Gaza deliberately politicized the police force and employed it for the government’s agenda and extreme right-wing ideology.

Recent days have witnessed a group of phenomena that illustrate the institutional disintegration of the role of the police in preserving the law and guaranteeing the right to demonstrate and protest, through the arrest of members of the families of the kidnapped, violence against them, and attitudes of contempt and humiliation on the part of government officials towards the families of the kidnapped, the opposition, and the Israeli public that is opposed to the Netanyahu government and its policies related to the conduct of... War and prisoner exchange.

Families of Israeli detainees in front of Netanyahu's house in Caesarea (Associated Press)

Disintegration of society

Labor Party Knesset member Naomi Lazimi, who was decided to be investigated on suspicion of incitement against Israeli police officers during the protests in front of Netanyahu’s house in Jerusalem, says, “This disintegration did not stop with the police, but rather affected large sectors of the Israeli public,” in an indication of the depth of the rift and division. Community.

Lazimi explained in a briefing to the Israeli media following the decision to open an investigation against her, “Wherever the families of the kidnapped people stand to protest and demand the return of their children from captivity, they receive insults and spit from an angry Israeli public, which responds to the horrific campaign against them, which comes from Netanyahu’s office, where the families of the kidnapped have been identified as a problem.” It must be fought."

In this regard, the Israeli parliamentarian affiliated with the Zionist left believes that “there is no escape from widespread opposition to the government and its leaders. Those who decided to turn Israel into a dictatorship and brought the greatest catastrophe on it since its establishment, and then abandoned the kidnappers, must leave now.”

In the face of the march of fascism, the decline of democracy, and the disintegration of society, Lazimi says, "There must be a clear and uncompromising voice. We will not stop protesting and criticizing. Attempts at intimidation will not deter the people of Israel. The government is in a state of hysteria, and the struggle and protest must continue until it is overthrown."

Delegitimization

With the escalating trend of the protests being joined by a wide Israeli public and from various sectors, the judicial affairs analyst for the Israeli Channel 13, journalist Baruch Kara, believes that “parts in the Israeli establishment and the government are seeking to delegitimize the protests, under the pretext that they have violent content and cause chaos and disruption of public order.” .

He says, "In the past few days, with the expansion of protests demanding the liberation of the kidnapped people and the holding of early parliamentary elections, and after some demonstrators crossed the police barriers in front of Netanyahu's house, there are those who are trying to confuse and intimidate the protesting crowd with vulgar phrases and endless slogans."

Kara adds, "So perhaps it is worth mentioning what should be self-evident. If the amendments to the judicial system brought tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, to the streets of Israel, then the events of October 7 will bring much larger numbers to the streets."

Regarding the implications of the escalation of the demonstrations against Netanyahu and the storming of his house, the judicial affairs analyst sees this as an indication that these protests will expand, pointing out that “more numbers of people and anger will accumulate, as long as the kidnapped people remain captive in Gaza, and certainly as long as Netanyahu does not seem to be doing everything.” "Something to bring them back."

The Israeli journalist asked, "What exactly do the Israeli government and law enforcement authorities expect? That the Israeli public will sit quietly? That the public will simply believe the prime minister's narrative that everything is under control? What exactly has Netanyahu done in recent months for the public to believe him?"

In light of the protests and these questions, the judicial affairs analyst says, “It seems clear that the demonstrations have intensified, including the demonstration of anger in front of Netanyahu’s house, and in order to stop the course of the protest, the campaign to delegitimize the demonstrators has begun once again, including the families of the kidnapped who are participating in the protests in conflict.” "Inherent between the survival of the government and the return of the kidnapped people."

Change reality

The same proposition was adopted by Israeli writer Yair Assoulin, who said, “The most clear interest of the government and Netanyahu is for the protests to explode, to reach the point of violence, to justify everything they are treated with, and to be framed as a protest by the anarchists, those who use the families of the kidnapped to advance their interests.” political, and those who support chaos.”

Assouline explained in his article in the newspaper "Haaretz" that "all those who push the protest to these places, and talk about burning the country or besieging the Knesset, and certainly those who practice violence, seek to undermine the justification for the protest, which serves the government, which strives above all else." Something that unites around it those who hate the protests, even if they support them.”

The Israeli writer stressed that the situation is complex and the challenges are well known. He asked, “How can you bring about change without making noise? How can you influence public discourse and public awareness without expanding the protests?” Saying, “Any protest that does not demand accelerating the elections is insignificant and even dangerous, so the Israeli public must believe in the idea of ​​changing reality through the ballot boxes and without violence.”

Source: Al Jazeera