Violent clashes broke out on Saturday night between police and protesters who took part earlier in the demonstration of the self-employed and small business owners in Rabin Square (Thousands of Small Business Owners in Rabin Square Protest Failed Economic Policy).
The anarchists took over the rally at the end of the event, as protesters marched to the Kirya area and to Rothschild Boulevard. Some cursed the cops, burned garbage cans and chanted slogans condemning the government:
https://t.co/uelZC2sMuv. שמאלנים אנרכיסטים תקפו את השוטרים שהיו בהפגנה https://t.co/uelZC2sMuv
— love u??????BB (@Dmaviv1Dmaviv)
Protesters blocking streets in Tel Aviv after the demonstration:
אנרכיסטיםhttps://t.co/iDnqp2O52A
— yay ?? (@uz777)
Police forcefully remove demonstrators who block the Azrieli Junction of the Ayalon highway:
0404: בתום המחאה בת”א: המשטרה מפזרת בכוח מפגינים שחוסמים את צומת עזריאלי – 0404… https://t.co/zvPqVLgbKJ pic.twitter.com/FFSj3bwHgW
— rankstr-IL (@rankstr_il)
From there, the protesters marched towards the Ayalon highway and blocked the Azrieli junction. They blocked police vehicles while shouting “Bibi go home.” They then moved back into the heart of Tel Aviv, accompanied by mounted police and Border Guard officers.
A number of protesters were arrested during the march, after clashing with police, which used a great deal of force, using the mounted horses to drive back the crowds. A number of protesters were slightly injured during the police attacks. Policemen pushed the protesters towards Habima Square, where the demonstration and arrests resumed, with unrestrained force.
Police arrested at least 19 demonstrators, three cops were injured lightly and received treatment on the spot. A police official told Kan 11 News that the demonstration was marked by anarchy and attacks on the police, on civilians and on government symbols and that the police would not allow this.
“We will even the scales with everyone who did this,” the police source promised.
Police say tear gas was fired at police officers and water bottles were thrown at them. Some protesters sprayed pepper gas at police, and threw stones and water bottles at the mounted cops.
Although the police approved only 1,800 participants in Saturday night’s rally, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Rabin Square in Tel Aviv to participate in the demonstration of the self-employed in protest of the difficult economic situation that followed the government’s coronavirus closures, and in demanding to receive the promised aid.
The protesters did not maintain the required 6 ft. social distancing, despite the organizers’ pleas, but most wore facemasks.
While the organizers stressed that politicians would not be able to speak at the rally, insisting that the demonstration was not politically motivated, there were signs with messages attacking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, such as, “No way a criminal defendant can be prime minister.”
Other signs said: “We want to get the money, and we will continue to fight until we see the money in our accounts.”
Practical.