[ "We can see right now many laws being advocated for against
LGBTQ, against Palestinians, against larger minorities in Israel,"
said one organizer.]
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THOUSANDS IN ISRAEL MARCH AGAINST ‘FASCISM AND APARTHEID’ AT
ANTI-NETANYAHU PROTESTS  
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Julia Conley
January 8, 2023
Common Dreams
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_ "We can see right now many laws being advocated for against LGBTQ,
against Palestinians, against larger minorities in Israel," said one
organizer. _

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu makes an impassioned
address to the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel on June 13, 2021., (Photo:
Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

 

Carrying signs reading, "Together against fascism and apartheid" and
"Democracy in danger," thousands of Israelis on Saturday marched in
protest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition
government, which less than a week after being sworn in has already
threatened to strip the country's judiciary of power and announced
punitive measures against Palestinian people and leaders.

According to
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about 20,000 people attended two different marches—one organized by
the grassroots group Standing Together and calling for equality and
partnership between Palestinians and Israelis, and another focusing on
Netanyahu's threats to the Israeli justice system.

The protests came days after Netanyahu's new national security
minister, Itamar Ben Gvir
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angered Palestinians and the Israeli opposition by entering
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mosque compound in East Jerusalem, which was seen as a provocation and
an escalation of Israel's attacks on Palestine.

"Extremists are starting to deploy their forces and it's not the
majority," a protester named Omer told
[[link removed]]_France24 _at
a march in Tel Aviv.

Netanyahu's government, which has been called the most right-wing in
Israel's history, also announced that it would expand settlements in
the occupied West Bank. The prime minister's office indicated
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Friday the punitive measures are being taken in retaliation for
Palestinians' call for the International Court of Justice to render a
legal opinion on Israeli's policies in the West Bank and East
Jerusalem. Despite the opposition of Israel and the U.S., the United
Nations General Assembly voted
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week in favor of a resolution calling for an opinion.

One U.S.-based observer noted that language describing Israeli's
violent anti-Palestinian policies as "apartheid" was prevalent at
Saturday's demonstration. The term has long been rejected by
supporters of Israel and used by human rights advocates and experts.

The protests were held days after Netanyahu's newly appointed justice
minister, Yariv Levin, announced reforms
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would allow lawmakers to override Supreme Court decisions. Members of
Netanyahu's Cabinet have also made derogatory claims about LGBTQ+
people and reportedly
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to roll back laws allowing gay couples to adopt children.

"We can see right now many laws being advocated for against LGBTQ,
against Palestinians, against larger minorities in Israel," Rula Daood
of Standing Together told
[[link removed]]_ABC
News_. "We are here to say loud and clear that all of us, Arabs and
Jews and different various communities inside of Israel, demand peace,
equality, and justice."

In addition to the expansion of illegal settlements, Netanyahu's
government announced last week that it would withhold $39 million from
the Palestinian Authority and use the funds to compensate the families
of Israeli victims of the conflict and said
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Sunday that it had revoked Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki's
travel permit.

_Julia Conley is a staff writer for Common Dreams._

* Israel
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* Protest
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* Anti-apartheid
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