Cops violently disperse protesters at Tel Aviv anti-war rally, after court raised attendance cap
The Times of Israel • • world
Key Points:
- Hundreds of anti-war activists protested in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities after the High Court of Justice ordered police to allow larger demonstrations despite military objections over missile threats from Iran and allied groups.
- Police declared the main Tel Aviv protest unlawful after exceeding the court-approved 600-person limit, violently dispersing the crowd and arresting 17 demonstrators; detainees claimed they were held in an unsafe, unprotected room during a missile alert.
- The High Court's decision to permit larger protests during wartime restrictions sparked fierce criticism from far-right politicians and religious leaders, including Israel’s Sephardic Chief Rabbi, who called the court "the enemy of Judaism" for issuing the ruling on Shabbat.
- Protesters accused the government of exploiting the war for political gain, while opposition lawmakers condemned police violence and alleged selective enforcement of wartime restrictions that disproportionately target anti-government demonstrations.
- The controversy highlights deep divisions within Israeli society over the ongoing conflict, balancing security concerns with democratic rights to protest, and the role of the judiciary amid heightened tensions.
